bison

noun

bi·​son ˈbī-sᵊn How to pronounce bison (audio) -zᵊn How to pronounce bison (audio)
plural bison
: any of several large living or extinct bovine mammals (genus Bison) that have a long, broad head, short, hollow horns, heavy forequarters, a large muscular hump across the shoulders, and a shaggy mane on the head and lower neck and that typically live and migrate in herds: such as
bisontine adjective

Examples of bison in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Yellowstone Park bison takes a slips, falls on frozen creek. USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Ranchlands This Colorado agricultural business operates large-scale cattle and bison ranches in addition to hospitality stays focused on preserving the legacy of ranching in the American West. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 In the Yellowstone study, bison injured more people than any other animal. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, 8 miles northeast of downtown Denver, is home to a herd of bison that have a large (but fenced) roaming area and can be seen during a drive through the refuge. Mindy Sink, The Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2024 After consulting with the Healy Lake Village Council, an organization of Indigenous people who live in the Swan Point region, the researchers hypothesized that early Alaskans searched the landscape for places with woolly mammoths and bison. Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2024 The National Elk Refuge run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protects a swath of land inhabited not just by elk but also by bison, bighorn sheep, wolves, bald eagles, and other iconic Jackson Hole species. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023 Eight free things to do in Ohio from beaches to bison watching The village has over 50 storefronts, offering many dining and shopping choices to guests. The Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2024 Meanwhile, the park’s bison herds have been thriving. Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bison.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin bisont-, bison, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wisant aurochs; akin to Old Prussian wissambrs aurochs

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bison was circa 1611

Dictionary Entries Near bison

Cite this Entry

“Bison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bison. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bison

noun
plural bison
: any of several large shaggy-maned mammals related to the ox with a large head, short horns, and a large fleshy hump above the shoulders
especially : buffalo sense c

More from Merriam-Webster on bison

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