minibear
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A critter, or any animal that is smaller than a bear, that gets into a camper's food, pack, or tent.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Almost any place worth camping in comes equipped with a full complement of night-foraging critters. Most are small, like chipmunks, but they are still worthy of the nickname "minibears."
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “minibear” mean?
A critter, or any animal that is smaller than a bear, that gets into a camper's food, pack, or tent.
Is “minibear” formal or informal?
minibear is generally slang.