Paul Bunyan

noun

Paul Bun·​yan -ˈbən-yən How to pronounce Paul Bunyan (audio)
: a giant lumberjack of American folklore

Examples of Paul Bunyan in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, a traveling act that performs at dozens of state and county fairs and other events across the world, made its Iowa State Fair debut this year. — Israel Schuman, Des Moines Register, 18 Aug. 2026 Explore the Wild West from the back of a rickety wagon as characters share famed fables about Paul Bunyan, Babe the Blue Ox, Pecos Bill, John Henry and Hekeke. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 10 July 2026 Favorite attractions, such as Paul Bunyan Land's county-fair-style amusements or Brainerd International Raceway's bone-rumbling motorsports, still draw steady visitors to the Brainerd Lakes area. — Lisa Meyers McClintick, Midwest Living, 17 June 2026 That would be Babe the Blue Ox, modeled after the sidekick to the mythical Paul Bunyan, who, legend has it, hailed from Bangor. — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for Paul Bunyan

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Paul Bunyan was in 1925

Rhymes for Paul Bunyan

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Browse Nearby Words

Paul-Bunnell reaction
Paul Bunyan
Paulding
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Cite this Entry

“Paul Bunyan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Paul%20Bunyan. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Paul Bunyan

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Paul Bunyan

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