brown bear

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

brown′ bear′, 

1. Zoology, Mammals any of several medium-sized to large bears of the species Ursus arctos, inhabiting North America and Eurasia in dwindling populations, characterized by an upturned muzzle and a hump high on the back and ranging from light tan to near black;
   formerly considered three distinct species and often still referred to as such:
   U. horribilis,
   the grizzly bear;
   U. middendorffi, the Kodiac bear;
   and U. arctos, comprising European and Asian brown bears.

• 1775–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

brown bear noun

1. a large ferocious brownish bear, Ursus arctos, inhabiting temperate forests of North America, Europe, and Asia
   See also grizzly bear, Kodiak bear