Illustration of bighorn sheep
bighorn sheep
noun
big·horn sheep
ˈbig-ˌhȯrn- 
variants
or less commonly bighorn
plural bighorn sheep also bighorns or bighorn
: a usually grayish-brown wild sheep (Ovis canadensis) of mountainous and desert regions of western North America
Note: The bighorn sheep has a white patch on the rump and, in the males, massive horns that curve up and back over the ears and then up and forward toward the cheeks.
Examples of bighorn sheep in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Next, Kat nestles a plastic headpiece shaped like a bighorn sheep rack onto me.
—
Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Burros need to consume much more plant material than their native grazing counterparts, like bighorn sheep or mule deer, due to their less efficient digestive systems.
—John Leos, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Labyrinth preserves quiet for rafters, hikers, and bighorn sheep.
—Stephen Trimble, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Over club sandwiches and some very good margaritas, Mikkelsen described Anza-Borrego as an under-the-radar oasis that’s known among devotees for its wildflower blooms and hiking trails, as well as its golden eagles and herds of bighorn sheep.
—Rosecrans Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
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Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Burros need to consume much more plant material than their native grazing counterparts, like bighorn sheep or mule deer, due to their less efficient digestive systems.
—John Leos, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Labyrinth preserves quiet for rafters, hikers, and bighorn sheep.
—Stephen Trimble, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Over club sandwiches and some very good margaritas, Mikkelsen described Anza-Borrego as an under-the-radar oasis that’s known among devotees for its wildflower blooms and hiking trails, as well as its golden eagles and herds of bighorn sheep.
—Rosecrans Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bighorn sheep
Cite this Entry
“Bighorn sheep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bighorn%20sheep. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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bighorn sheep
noun
big·horn sheep
ˈbig-ˌhȯrn-
: a usually grayish brown wild sheep of mountainous western North America
called also bighorn, Rocky Mountain sheep
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