gray wolf

noun

: a large, broad-headed, wide-muzzled wolf (Canis lupus) that has a dense, heavy coat of usually light brown or brownish gray interspersed with black above and yellowish white below and that was formerly widely distributed throughout North America and Eurasia but is now greatly restricted to the more northerly parts of its range
The only sizable gray wolf population south of Canada and Alaska continues to roam the forest-and-lake country of northern Minnesota.Vic Banks

Note: The gray wolf has been considered a threat to livestock and people for hundreds of years and has been wiped out from most of its original range by hunting, trapping, and poisoning.

called also timber wolf

Illustration of gray wolf

Illustration of gray wolf

Examples of gray wolf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The hunter learned through subsequent DNA testing that the animal was actually a gray wolf, which are normally found exclusively in the state's Upper Peninsula, CBS Detroit reported, citing the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 15 May 2024 It’s been more than 100 years since a gray wolf was spotted as south in Michigan as Calhoun County, WJBK reported. Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gray wolf 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gray wolf was in 1595

Dictionary Entries Near gray wolf

Cite this Entry

“Gray wolf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray%20wolf. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

gray wolf

noun
: a large wolf of northern regions that is usually gray

called also timber wolf

More from Merriam-Webster on gray wolf

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