bloodhound

noun

blood·​hound ˈbləd-ˌhau̇nd How to pronounce bloodhound (audio)
1
: any of a breed of large powerful hounds of European origin remarkable for acuteness of smell
2
: a person keen in pursuit

Illustration of bloodhound

Illustration of bloodhound
  • bloodhound 1

Examples of bloodhound in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Their first breakthrough in the search came when bloodhounds Keva and Naji stepped in. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 Just as dusk turns to night, Hoot the bloodhound picks up a scent. Ronnie Li, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026 The agency uses drones and aircraft to aid searches, but bloodhounds remain an age-old, low-tech solution. ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026 In one, a bloodhound died in the Winnebago after the Kentucky Bluegrass Cluster. Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bloodhound

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bloodhound was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Bloodhound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloodhound. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

bloodhound

noun
blood·​hound ˈbləd-ˌhau̇nd How to pronounce bloodhound (audio)
: any of a breed of large powerful hounds with a wrinkled face and a very good sense of smell

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