Bull: meaning, definitions and examples

Might also be used informally to describe something that is false or nonsense. This usage has a negative connotation.

• He said he could lift a car, but everyone knew that was just bull.

Technically incorrect as a term, but might be used by those unfamiliar with agricultural terminology to describe a male member of the bovine family.

• They thought it was a male cow, but it was actually a bull.

Refers to a bovine animal, typically a castrated adult male, trained as a draft animal to carry heavy loads or plough fields.

• The farmer used an ox to help plough the field.

Describes a castrated male bovine, often raised for beef.

• The steers were moved to a new pasture to graze.

Used to describe someone or something that is strong and powerful, often in a literal sense, like the animal, or in a figurative sense, particularly in financial markets to describe rising stock prices.

• The farmer showed me his prize bull.
• The market has been a real bull lately with prices soaring.

Describes a person who always looks at the bright side of things and expects the best possible outcome. It can be used in any general context, not just finance.

• He's an optimist who always sees the glass half full.
• Despite the challenges, the team's optimist believed they could win the game.

Refers to an investor who believes that the market or a specific security will rise in value. This term is specific to financial contexts.

• She is a bullish investor who always looks for stocks with growth potential.
• The bullish investors repeated their predictions of a booming economy.