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Definition of sun bear
sun bear
Plural:sun bears
sun bear Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, primarily arboreal bear native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, characterized by its short, sleek black coat, unusually long tongue, and a distinctive pale yellowish or crescent-shaped patch on its chest.
Example
"The sun bear uses its exceptionally long tongue to extract honey and insects from tree crevices in the dense tropical forests of Borneo."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name derives from the distinctive pale, horseshoe- or crescent-shaped patch of fur on the bear's chest, which folklore often likens to a rising or setting sun.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sun bear. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sun bear