What does wolverine mean?
The wolverine is a stocky, dark-brown mustelid native to northern Eurasia and North America. It is a powerful predator with thick fur, a broad head, and a reputation for tenacity, allowing it to survive in extremely cold environments. In speech, wolverine also means an exceptionally fierce, determined, or fearless person, a usage especially associated with informal North American English and sometimes applied to soldiers noted for their boldness. The rarer adjective wolverine describes extreme courage or defiance of danger. Although its name invites comparison with a wolf, the animal belongs to the same broader family as weasels, badgers, and otters. The word is especially vivid in figurative use because the wolverine is famously formidable and difficult to intimidate; calling someone a wolverine therefore suggests unyielding courage and strength of will. Wolverines are uncommon and protected in many parts of their range, so their names often appear more often in stories and expressions than in direct encounters.
A stocky, broad-headed, dark-brown mustelid native to northern Eurasia and North America. Informally, it can also denote a fierce, determined, or fearless person.
"The wolverine was tracking the carcass through the snow."
The figurative use is informal and often conveys stubborn courage, ferocity, or a readiness to confront danger.
Characterized by fierce boldness, tenacity, or defiance of danger.
"The soldiers were known for their wolverine courage."
This use is now chiefly literary or archaic and is less common than the noun.
The regular plural is used for multiple animals and, in the figurative sense, for multiple people described as wolverines.
"Two wolverines were observed near the edge of the forest."
Despite its name, the wolverine is no wolf: it is a formidable, thick-furred relative of otters, badgers, and weasels.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wolverine
The English word appeared in early modern forms such as wolvering and wolverine before the modern spelling became established. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, and the often-suggested connection with wolf is not a secure explanation. By the nineteenth century, wolverine was firmly established for the northern mustelid, while the figurative sense of a fierce or fearless person developed in parallel.
Related word forms
How wolverine is actually used
The animal sense is standard in both British and American English. The figurative noun is chiefly informal and is especially associated with North American usage; the adjective is much less common and tends to sound literary or archaic.
Easily confused with wolverine
A wolverine is not a wolf but a member of the weasel and badger family, the mustelids.