Illustration of dog
- 1 pastern
- 2 chest
- 3 flews
- 4 muzzle
- 5 stop
- 6 occiput
- 7 leather
- 8 crest
- 9 withers
- 10 loin
- 11 point of rump
- 12 hock or tarsus
- 13 knee or stifle
- 14 brisket
- 15 elbow
- 16 feathering
plural dogs
1
a
: a carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris) closely related to the gray wolf that has long been domesticated as a pet, occurs in a variety of sizes, colors, and coat types, and is sometimes trained to perform special tasks (such as herding, guarding, or acting as a service animal)
After 31 years of Labrador retrievers holding the title, the American Kennel Club says French bulldogs were the most popular dog in America last year.—
Scott Simon
Scott Simon
b
: any of a family (Canidae) of carnivorous mammals that includes the wolves, jackals, foxes, coyotes, and the domestic dog : canid
c
: a male dog compare bitch entry 1 sense 1
2
3
4
: uncharacteristic or affected stylishness or dignity
They really put on the dog for their daughter's wedding.
5
6
7
dogs plural, informal
: ruin
—used with the
It's enough to drive anyone to the dogs.
The economy is going to the dogs.
8
informal
: an inferior one of its kind
The movie was a dog.
The stock is a dog. Earnings have been poor …—Douglas A. McIntyre
Douglas A. McIntyreLogic should dictate that a hefty sedan powered by a small four-cylinder motor should be a real dog of a thing to drive.—Keith Didham
Keith Didham9
slang, often disparaging + offensive
: an unattractive person
especially
: an unattractive girl or woman
10
informal
: hot dog sense 1
bought two dogs and a beer
dogged
ˈdȯgd 
ˈdägd
; dogging; dogs
1
a
: to hunt, track, or follow (someone) like a hound
dogged her every move
b
: to be a persistent source of difficulty or distress to (someone) : plague
Rumors dogged him throughout his public life.—Howard Chua-Eoan
—often used in the passive with byHoward Chua-EoanTheir star pitcher has been dogged by injuries.
The project has been dogged by controversy.
c
: to bother or pester (someone) persistently : hound
Reporters dogged her for information.
2
: to fasten (something) with a dog (see dog entry 1 sense 3)
dogged down the hatch
Synonyms
Examples of dog in a Sentence
Noun
That dog barks all day long.
children playing with the family dog
wild dogs such as the Australian dingo
Her latest book turned out to be a real dog.
That was a dog of a movie.
Verb
He dogged her every move.
Creditors dogged him until he finally paid his bills.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebJim Gaines, ajc, 13 Sep. 2023
The remains were found by two men who were running their dogs and looking for rocks, according to DNASolves.
—CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023
This included four search dogs, three doctors, a diving team and a water extraction contingent, Tunisia’s state news agency TAP reported.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN, 13 Sep. 2023
The couple was seen taking a stroll on a N.Y.C. street with Bosworth's dog, Happy, on Tuesday.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023
Police brought in hundreds of law enforcement personnel with dogs, armored carriers, horses and helicopters that circled overhead.
—Maryclaire Dale, Marc Levy and Michael Rubinkam, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023
Responding officers found the dog, and advised the owner to take the dog in.
—cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023
On a return trip this week with her sister, Pape used a large mural of a dog in a NASA spacesuit above an exit as a signpost.
—Justin George, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
And some small dogs who can fit underneath a seat are traumatized by the experience.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023
Outside Online, 26 June 2020
But there were fewer differences in sleep quality indicators between cat and non-cat owners compared to dog and non-dog owners.
—L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune Well, 17 Mar. 2023
My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
—Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
For single- or multi-dog households, or simply to test a new brand, the five bag sizes provide plenty of alternatives.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022
State records show dog handler applications were submitted under ISS for dozens of guards.
—Joe Mahr, chicagotribune.com, 1 Aug. 2019
Dog beds: Hemp Vintage Stripe Envelope in Black; harrybarker.com.
—Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2013
For entertainment, there will be dog races, a police K-9 demonstration, dogs splashing into water and Repticon, a showing of exotic pets, consisting of reptiles, insects and amphibians.
—Louis Casiano Jr., Orange County Register, 28 Apr. 2017
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2023
Toxicity concerns have dogged BVO for over 50 years.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 3 Nov. 2023
The surgery, believed to be the first of Kershaw’s MLB career, comes after the left-hander was dogged by shoulder troubles throughout the second half of last season.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023
This prejudiced approach – further soured by industry rules prohibiting on-screen kissing between Chinese and white actors – dogged the actor throughout her career.
—Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Oct. 2023
Because of her own personal experience, Gabi is understandably dogged in her pursuit of missing people, and it’s earned her a reputation for being somewhat of a vigilante in the law enforcement space.
—Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 12 Oct. 2023
But not every movement has as dogged a researcher as Garber at its service, nor as singular and visionary a figure as Woolf at its core.
—Chris Vognar, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Biden, the nation’s oldest president at age 80, is poised to reclaim the party’s nomination, yet he has been dogged with questions about his age, frustration over his handling of the economy and anxiety about two wars.
—Ken Thomas, WSJ, 5 Nov. 2023
But don’t underestimate him; he is also dogged — and a true believer in journalism as a force for good.
—Ken Armstrong, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2023
See More
Noun
According to LifeLine, the DeKalb shelter takes in 135 dogs a week on average.
—Jim Gaines, ajc, 13 Sep. 2023
The remains were found by two men who were running their dogs and looking for rocks, according to DNASolves.
—CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023
This included four search dogs, three doctors, a diving team and a water extraction contingent, Tunisia’s state news agency TAP reported.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN, 13 Sep. 2023
The couple was seen taking a stroll on a N.Y.C. street with Bosworth's dog, Happy, on Tuesday.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023
Police brought in hundreds of law enforcement personnel with dogs, armored carriers, horses and helicopters that circled overhead.
—Maryclaire Dale, Marc Levy and Michael Rubinkam, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023
Responding officers found the dog, and advised the owner to take the dog in.
—cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023
On a return trip this week with her sister, Pape used a large mural of a dog in a NASA spacesuit above an exit as a signpost.
—Justin George, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
And some small dogs who can fit underneath a seat are traumatized by the experience.
—Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Altogether, the Reflective is a great choice for a young dog that will grow or a multi-dog family.
—Outside Online, 26 June 2020
But there were fewer differences in sleep quality indicators between cat and non-cat owners compared to dog and non-dog owners.
—L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune Well, 17 Mar. 2023
My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.
—Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
For single- or multi-dog households, or simply to test a new brand, the five bag sizes provide plenty of alternatives.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022
State records show dog handler applications were submitted under ISS for dozens of guards.
—Joe Mahr, chicagotribune.com, 1 Aug. 2019
Dog beds: Hemp Vintage Stripe Envelope in Black; harrybarker.com.
—Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2013
For entertainment, there will be dog races, a police K-9 demonstration, dogs splashing into water and Repticon, a showing of exotic pets, consisting of reptiles, insects and amphibians.
—Louis Casiano Jr., Orange County Register, 28 Apr. 2017
Verb
Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has a powerful reason for never wanting to talk about Israel or Palestine, and that reason is Jeremy Corbyn, his predecessor, whose leadership was dogged by allegations of antisemitism.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2023
Toxicity concerns have dogged BVO for over 50 years.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 3 Nov. 2023
The surgery, believed to be the first of Kershaw’s MLB career, comes after the left-hander was dogged by shoulder troubles throughout the second half of last season.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023
This prejudiced approach – further soured by industry rules prohibiting on-screen kissing between Chinese and white actors – dogged the actor throughout her career.
—Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Oct. 2023
Because of her own personal experience, Gabi is understandably dogged in her pursuit of missing people, and it’s earned her a reputation for being somewhat of a vigilante in the law enforcement space.
—Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 12 Oct. 2023
But not every movement has as dogged a researcher as Garber at its service, nor as singular and visionary a figure as Woolf at its core.
—Chris Vognar, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Biden, the nation’s oldest president at age 80, is poised to reclaim the party’s nomination, yet he has been dogged with questions about his age, frustration over his handling of the economy and anxiety about two wars.
—Ken Thomas, WSJ, 5 Nov. 2023
But don’t underestimate him; he is also dogged — and a true believer in journalism as a force for good.
—Ken Armstrong, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dog.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English docga
Adjective
from attributive use of dog entry 1
Verb
derivative of dog entry 1
Adverb
derivative of dog entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1519, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
1526, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of dog was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing dog
Dictionary Entries Near dog
Cite this Entry
“Dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dog. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
dog
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a domestic mammal that eats meat and is closely related to the gray wolf
b
: any animal of the family to which the dog belongs
c
: a male dog
2
a
: a worthless person
b
: person sense 1
you lucky dog
3
a
: any of various devices for holding, gripping, or fastening that consist of a spike, rod, or bar
b
: andiron
4
: a show of being stylish or rich
put on the dog
5
plural
: feet
dog
2 of 2 verb
dogged; dogging
: to hunt, track, or follow like a hound
Medical Definition
dog
nounoften attributive
: a highly variable carnivorous domesticated mammal of the genus Canis (C. familiaris) closely related to the common wolf (Canis lupus)
broadly
: any member of the family Canidae
More from Merriam-Webster on dog
Nglish: Translation of dog for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of dog for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dog
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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