puppy

noun

pup·​py ˈpə-pē 

plural puppies

1

: a young domestic dog

specifically : one less than a year old

2

: baby sense 4

a computer that is one fast puppy

puppyhood

ˈpə-pē-ˌhu̇d 

noun

puppyish

ˈpə-pē-ish 

adjective

puppylike

ˈpə-pē-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of puppy in a Sentence

Our dog just had four puppies.

Recent Examples on the Web

One puppy is dead and another is fighting for its life after a basket with six newborn puppies was found abandoned in New Haven on Sunday. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026

Tuxedo, a puppy, was just a year old and had been told by his vet and day-care teachers to start integrating himself with other dogs for his social development. — Irene Kim, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026

No duh — the stars happen to be adorable puppies, and the stories sound a constant theme, that good things come in small packages, a foolproof rallying cry that fills the hearts of its target audience. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

Two puppies were stillborn, but the team was able to successfully deliver and save the smallest puppy, the runt of the litter. — Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English popi, from Middle French poupée doll, toy, from *poupe

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing puppy

• foster dog/cat/puppy/kitten
• hush puppy
• mud puppy
• one sick puppy
• one tired puppy
• puppy dog
• puppy fat
• puppy love
• puppy mill

Rhymes for puppy

• guppy
• yuppie

Kids Definition

puppy

noun

pup·​py ˈpəp-ē 

plural puppies

: a young domestic dog

especially : one less than a year old