There are many differences between an ox and a bull. However, you may not notice them unless you study these two animals carefully. So, when it comes to ox vs. bull, what are the primary differences and similarities between these two words?
A bull is an adult male or domesticated cattle, especially an uncastrated one. The term also refers to adult males of large mammals like whales, elephants, & seals. In contrast, an ox is an adult castrated male cattle. A “bull” is an animal used for breeding, while an “ox” is used for pulling loads.
The words “ox” and “bull” are confusing, especially because animals can go by one or both names. There are instances when people use these words interchangeably, but that is not what it should be. Read on for clarity on the differences between a bull and an ox and everything in between.
Definition Of Ox And Bull
The main confusion between these words is that they both refer to similar animals. Therefore, the best way to differentiate them is by looking at the unique characteristics of each animal. However, before going into that, let us start with the basics: the definitions. So, here are the definitions for the words “ox” and “bull:”
Definition Of Ox
An ox is a castrated, less aggressive, and disciplined/controllable large adult animal used for domestic work. For example, in a sentence, “The ox on Amanda’s farm helps us with plowing.”
The word also refers to any bovine animal. The word bovine pertains to cattle or animals in the same family, genre, subfamily, or tribe as cows, buffalos, and bison. An example sentence is, “The Lawson sisters borrowed our ox when they needed to pull their hay cart into the farm.”
Other dictionaries define an ox as “any adult castrated bull of the Bos genus” or “a domesticated animal of the Bos genus.” For example, “Mighty is the strongest ox in our village.”
Definition Of Bull
A bull is an adult male domesticated cattle, like an ox. Let’s look at a sentence example, “My mother owns a bull and several sheep at her farm in Texas.”
Other sources define a bull as “an adult male of any certain large mammals, like whales, elephants, and seals.” For example, in a sentence, “The whale at the marine park is an excellent example of a bull.”
Another definition of a bull is “a strong and large man.” For example, “The bully shrieked when my bull came to defend me.”
In finance, a bull is “an investor who purchases commodities or securities in anticipation of a rise in prices.” Here is an example in a sentence, “Jane has become an investment bull in the past couple of years.”
In the United States, people use the word “bull” as slang for “a policeman employed in a railroad yard.” For example, in a sentence, “The bull inspected all the packages before they got onto the cargo train.”
Also, in some states, like Philadelphia, a bull refers to any male human being. In a sentence, “The bull entered my house without permission and got arrested.”
As a verb, the word “bull” means “forcing yourself in a particular direction.” For example, “Mary just needs to bull towards victory after the disappointing practice she had.”
The verb “bull” also means “to tell untruths, polish boots to a high shine, or endeavor to raise the market price of a security or commodity.” Here is a sentence example, “The news from CBC will bull the stakes for Adidas and Yeezy shoes.” In Historical Britain, a bull is “a crown coin (5 shillings).”
How To Properly Use Ox And Bull In A Sentence
These words are easy to use if you understand their meanings. However, it would be wise to understand the proper contexts where you can use them beyond the meanings. If this seems hard for you to do, this section will help you. So, let us look at some guidelines for properly using the words “ox” and “bull” in sentences:
How To Use The Word Ox
The first thing you need to do is embrace the correct spelling. Since this word only has two letters, it is one of the simplest to write. Besides the spelling, this word is simple to use because it has one primary meaning.
So, the correct context for using the word “ox” is when referring to domesticated or castrated bovine animals. For example, “This is the strongest ox in our village.”
The plural for an ox is oxen. Other contexts where you can use this word are:
- As a noun referring to a dull or stupid person
- As a noun for a fully grown female animal, domesticated ox breed
How To Use The Word Bull
Use this word as a noun in the following contexts:
- A male animal like cattle, sheep, whale, goat, or seal
- An investor in the stock market
- An excessively elaborate story told to justify something
Use this word as a verb in the following contexts:
- To move forward by force
- To tell lies
Use this word as an adjective in the following contexts:
- Having a surfeit of body fat
- Large in scale or size
- Strong and large
Word Vs Word Posts
Ox Vs. Bull: Main Differences
An Ox is usually castrated because it is an uncommon food source, except in countries with food insecurity. Instead, people use them on farms for plowing and pulling loads, like carts. Also, castration helps reduce their aggressiveness, making them easier to handle for domestic applications. A castrated ox is called a draft animal.
In contrast, the purpose of breeding a bull is for further breeding. Therefore, you do not castrate a bull. Also, a bull is a fantastic food source, unlike an ox. Because of their purposes, oxen are typically stronger and larger. In contrast, bulls are large but not as strong because they are bred for further breeding.
Another difference between a bull and an ox is their gender. While an ox is mostly male, people used it to refer to some female cows some time back. What matters is the size. In contrast, a bull strictly refers to male cattle.
List Of Examples Of Ox And Bull Use In Sentences
After reading the information above, you can easily construct sentences using these words. Here are a few examples:
Example sentences of the word ox
- Maria’s ox is the largest and strongest in Texas.
- Please use the ox to pull the cart out of the way.
- We castrated our youngest ox yesterday because of its extreme aggression.
- The ox became bigger over the years, attracting lots of money.
- An ox is the perfect example of a bovine animal.
Example sentences of the word bull
- A mature bull weighs about a ton and can be as tall as six feet.
- The family butchered the bull to celebrate James’s graduation with honors.
- The police arrested Silicon Valley’s bull yesterday for insider trading.
- Please find the bull before my father comes back from his European trip.
- My uncle is a perfect example of a bull because of his height and strength.
Conclusion
The main difference between a bull and an ox is that you raise a bull for further breeding while you raise an ox for domestic uses. So, an ox is castrated while a bull is not. Another difference is that a bull is typically less strong than an ox.
You should also note that an ox can be female or male (mostly male). However, a bull is exclusively male. With this information, you should be able to distinguish bulls from oxen. If not, keep reading this post for a clearer overview.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.