Illustration of Labrador retriever
Labrador retriever
noun
Lab·ra·dor retriever
ˈla-brə-ˌdȯr- 
: any of a breed of medium-sized strongly built retrievers largely developed in England from stock originating in Newfoundland and having a short dense black, yellow, or chocolate coat and a thick rounded tail
called also Lab, Labrador
Examples of Labrador retriever in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a viral TikTok clip, a Labrador retriever and her little Dalmatian sister try to sail on board their small doggy pool.
—
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
And, McCoy is nervous for the family’s Labrador retriever, who will have to fly in the plane’s cargo hold in a kennel.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Nationally, the most common dog breed is the Labrador retriever, but Arizona has a different favorite.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Hope Anne, a 1-year-old Labrador retriever Meet Hope Anne — a bouncy, lovable black Lab mix with a heart full of joy and a tail that just won’t quit.
—Trish Stinger, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
The dozen dogs on Pup Patrol represent a variety of breeds, including Cavalier King Charles spaniel, beagle, Australian shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Tibetan spaniel, Labrador retriever, goldendoodle and mixed breeds.
—Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
While a typical Labrador retriever or border collie had a median life expectancy of just over 13 years, the researchers found that almost across the board, flat-faced, or brachycephalic, dogs fared worse by that measure.
—Amanda Schupak, CNN, 3 Feb. 2024
The pit bull/Labrador retriever mix arrived at Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue in Houston over two years ago.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2023
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Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
And, McCoy is nervous for the family’s Labrador retriever, who will have to fly in the plane’s cargo hold in a kennel.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Nationally, the most common dog breed is the Labrador retriever, but Arizona has a different favorite.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Hope Anne, a 1-year-old Labrador retriever Meet Hope Anne — a bouncy, lovable black Lab mix with a heart full of joy and a tail that just won’t quit.
—Trish Stinger, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
The dozen dogs on Pup Patrol represent a variety of breeds, including Cavalier King Charles spaniel, beagle, Australian shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Tibetan spaniel, Labrador retriever, goldendoodle and mixed breeds.
—Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
While a typical Labrador retriever or border collie had a median life expectancy of just over 13 years, the researchers found that almost across the board, flat-faced, or brachycephalic, dogs fared worse by that measure.
—Amanda Schupak, CNN, 3 Feb. 2024
The pit bull/Labrador retriever mix arrived at Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue in Houston over two years ago.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Labrador retriever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Labrador%20retriever. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Labrador retriever
noun
Lab·ra·dor retriever
ˌlab-rə-ˌdȯr-
: any of a breed of strongly built retrievers having a broad head, a short dense black, yellow, or chocolate coat, and a thick rounded tail
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