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The quadrupeds include almost all the mammals. (Among the exceptions are whales, bats, and humans.) The Greek equivalent of this Latin word is tetrapod. However, the two are not identical, since the tetrapod classification includes bipeds such as birds, in which two of the limbs are no longer used for walking. Insects all have six legs, of course, and in the sea there are eight-legged octopods (including the octopus). But there are no animals of any kind with an odd number of legs.
Examples of quadruped in a Sentence
Horses and cows are quadrupeds.
Recent Examples on the Web
Downward Dog Start in a quadruped position.
—
Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
According to the firm, unlike conventional AI models designed for specific robot types, its foundation model is omni-bodied, capable of controlling any robot—humanoids, quadrupeds, tabletop arms, and mobile manipulators—without prior knowledge of its exact form.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 Jan. 2026
The company also released D1, a quadruped robot built for outdoor mobility, patrol, and load-carrying support.
—John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
The final event of the DARPA Triage Challenge will take place in November, and Team Chiron from Carnegie Mellon University will be competing, using a squad of quadruped robots and drones.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2025
The quadruped is currently deployed at car manufacturing sites and in hazardous industrial areas around the world.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
More Kent Nishimura/AP A robotic quadruped, also known as a robot dog, during the US Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Kawasaki Which is not to say that ride-on quadrupeds aren't going to be a thing.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
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Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
According to the firm, unlike conventional AI models designed for specific robot types, its foundation model is omni-bodied, capable of controlling any robot—humanoids, quadrupeds, tabletop arms, and mobile manipulators—without prior knowledge of its exact form.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 Jan. 2026
The company also released D1, a quadruped robot built for outdoor mobility, patrol, and load-carrying support.
—John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
The final event of the DARPA Triage Challenge will take place in November, and Team Chiron from Carnegie Mellon University will be competing, using a squad of quadruped robots and drones.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2025
The quadruped is currently deployed at car manufacturing sites and in hazardous industrial areas around the world.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
More Kent Nishimura/AP A robotic quadruped, also known as a robot dog, during the US Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Kawasaki Which is not to say that ride-on quadrupeds aren't going to be a thing.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quadruped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadruped. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quadruped
noun
quad·ru·ped
ˈkwäd-rə-ˌped 
: an animal having four feet
Medical Definition
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