wolverine

American  

[wool-vuh-reen, wool-vuh-reen] / ˌwʊl vəˈrin, ˈwʊl vəˌrin /

noun

• wolverines
  plural

1. Also called carcajou. a stocky, carnivorous North American mammal, Gulo luscus, of the weasel family, having blackish, shaggy hair with white markings.

2. (initial capital letter) a native or inhabitant of Michigan (the Wolverine State) (used as a nickname).

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wolverine British  

/ ˈwʊlvəˌriːn /

noun

1. Also called: glutton. a large musteline mammal, Gulo gulo, of northern forests of Eurasia and North America having dark very thick water-resistant fur

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• wolverines
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of wolverine

1565–75; alteration of earlier wolvering (with -ine ² for -ing ³ ), obscure derivative of wolf

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Explanation

A wolverine is a strong little animal, the largest member of the weasel family. You're most likely to see a wolverine if you go hiking in Alaska. Although they’re cute, don’t try to pet one. They are not cuddly. Wolverines are related to otters and badgers, but they're known as the fiercest weasels, able to fight and kill animals much larger than they are. Wolverines are dense and covered with shaggy fur, and because they resemble little bears — and mark their territories with a strong scent — they're sometimes called skunk bears. They weigh about 50 pounds. Wolverine was originally wolvering, which may come from the plural form of wolf, wolves, or possibly from wolver, "one who behaves like a wolf."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wolverine wolverines

Researchers noted that many apparent wolverine sightings were rejected because they did not satisfy strict documentation requirements.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 2026

Without those exemptions, fuels-reduction projects that protect wolverine habitat from catastrophic fire would grind to a halt, directly threatening the species.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025

"I saw the wolverine picture on the surface and I thought it was going to be in the cave and eat us."

From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2024

Several sightings of an elusive wolverine in May in California’s High Sierra sparked a flurry of excitement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2024

A wolverine, she thought; but there was not a footstep to tell which way the thief had gone.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

The program was designed to benefit both wolverines and the Indigenous Sámi reindeer herders who share the landscape with them.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 2026

And of course, some species will never do well in fragments — for instance, wide-ranging creatures like grizzly bears, mountain lions and wolverines, who each require large territories without competition from others of their kind.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2024

The agencies also responded to concerns about grizzlies’ impacts on livestock, and on threatened species like wolverines and salmon, as well as hikers.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 25, 2024

Bigger herbivores -- plant-eating animals like deer or moose -- tend to become more active when humans are around, while meat-eaters like wolves or wolverines tend to be less active, preferring to avoid risky encounters.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 18, 2024

The Dursleys rounded on Harry like a pair of angry wolverines.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

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