pug

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: any of a breed of small sturdy compact dogs of Asian origin with a smooth, short coat, tightly curled tail, short muzzle, and broad wrinkled face
2
a
b
: a close knot or coil of hair : bun

Illustration of pug

Illustration of pug
  • pug 1

pug

2 of 4

verb

pugged; pugging

transitive verb

: to work and mix (a substance, such as clay) when wet especially to make more homogeneous and easier to handle (as in throwing or molding wares)

pug

3 of 4

noun (2)

pug

4 of 4

noun (3)

Examples of pug in a Sentence

Noun (2) a retired pug with battered ears and swollen knuckles
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
For example, canines with short legs, such as corgis, or ones with short noses, like pugs, find swimming to be difficult. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 Have long or thick fur. Are a breed with breathing issues, including bulldogs, pugs, boxers, Boston terriers or Persian cats. Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025 On May 17, just a few days before his 13th birthday, the famous pug with over 15 million social media followers received an honorary degree from the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Kelli Bender, People.com, 26 May 2025 Breeds that are particularly baby-like, such as pugs and French bulldogs, can even exhibit the innocence and helplessness of toddlers. Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pug

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

obsolete pug hobgoblin, monkey

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration from pugilist

Noun (3)

Hindi & Urdu pag foot, step

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1843, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1858, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pug was in 1751

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pug. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

pug

noun
ˈpəg
: any of a breed of small sturdy compact dogs having a short coat, tightly curled tail, and broad wrinkled face

More from Merriam-Webster on pug

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