cane corso

noun

ca·​ne cor·​so ˌkä-nā-ˈkȯr-sō How to pronounce cane corso (audio)
: any of a Italian breed of large, muscular dogs having a short, dense, stiff coat and a large head with a short, broad, square muzzle and powerful jaws

Examples of cane corso 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.
According to the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Zeus, a cane corso whose name matches his strong looks, was brought to the shelter on Sept. 29 as an owner surrender. Tj MacIas, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025 Security camera video showed Gibson’s four cane corsos running toward Henry’s home, the report said. Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025 Earlier this month, a tragic incident occurred involving Tyrese‘s four cane corso dogs and allegedly killing a neighbor’s Cavalier King Charles spaniel in their Atlanta neighborhood. Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Screenshots from a June 27 TikTok video of a cane corso stealing food from the pantry and bringing it outside to enjoy in peace. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 Big dogs like Great Danes and cane corso have the smallest lifespan, with an average of eight to 10 years. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 The case against Fincham stems from two separate incidents in which his cane corso dog, Elvis, allegedly attacked someone on the street. David Matthews, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cane corso was in 1834

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Cite this Entry

“Cane corso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cane%20corso. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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