bulldog

1 of 3

noun

bull·​dog ˈbu̇l-ˌdȯg How to pronounce bulldog (audio)
 also  ˈbəl-
1
: any of a breed of compact muscular short-haired dogs having widely separated forelegs and an undershot lower jaw that were developed in England to fight bulls
2
: a handgun with a thick usually short barrel
3
: a proctor's attendant at an English university

bulldog

2 of 3

adjective

: suggestive of a bulldog
bulldog tenacity

bulldog

3 of 3

verb

bulldogged; bulldogging; bulldogs

transitive verb

: to throw (a steer) by seizing the horns and twisting the neck
bulldogger noun
bulldogging noun

Examples of bulldog in a Sentence

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
Mike White just might be dedicating an entire season of The White Lotus to his beloved French bulldogs. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025 Courtesy of the Colorado Rockies Feedback has already been incredibly positive, and Donnelly intends to bring his own English bulldog, Margaret, to her first Bark at the Park game next week. Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Audi's design language works well when draped over the shared 108.7-inch wheelbase and 62.3-inch front and 61.5-inch rear track widths, resulting in chunky bulldog styling that looks fetching in SUV form. Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 22 Dec. 2022
Verb
Wade Sumpter was the last repeat bulldogging champ in 2012. Jason McDaniel, Houston Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2018 See All Example Sentences for bulldog

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1816, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulldog was circa 1518

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bulldog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulldog. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

bulldog

1 of 3 noun
bull·​dog ˈbu̇l-ˌdȯg How to pronounce bulldog (audio)
: any of a breed of stocky short-haired dogs with a broad square head and forelegs set widely apart that was developed in England to fight bulls

bulldog

2 of 3 adjective
: suggestive of a bulldog
bulldog courage

bulldog

3 of 3 verb
: to throw a steer by seizing the horns and twisting the neck

More from Merriam-Webster on bulldog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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