1. Brown to black North American bear; smaller and less ferocious than the brown bear
   "Black bears are common in the forests of New England"; "American black bears are common in the forests of New England";
   - American black bear, Ursus americanus, Euarctos americanus
    
2. Bear with a black coat living in central and eastern Asia
   "The Asiatic black bear is also known as the moon bear";
   - Asiatic black bear, Ursus thibetanus, Selenarctos thibetanus

Derived forms: black bears

Type of: bear

Part of: Euarctos, genus Euarctos, genus Selenarctos, Selenarctos

Encyclopedia: Black bear