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

Examples of bison in a Sentence

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Owner Bruno Neves uses bison instead of beef fat and also offers deodorants and coffee exfoliants. Jenna Belhumeur, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026 Silbiger’s portfolio is a reflective combination of classic American motifs like Saguaro cacti and herds of bison, and odd roadside attractions like the inflatable Maine lobster. Sarah Silbiger, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 Yes, there’s some fun action and dire conflict, but the story itself is never allowed to really stretch its wings 0r, well, flying bison tail. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 Last year, a bison tragically boiled to death after stumbling into one of Yellowstone's hot springs. Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bison

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

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Cite this Entry

“Bison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bison. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

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

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