dogcatcher

noun

dog·​catch·​er ˈdȯg-ˌka-chər How to pronounce dogcatcher (audio)
-ˌke-
: a community official assigned to catch and dispose of stray dogs

Examples of dogcatcher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There was a sign outside the sheriff’s office, warning Black people — using a racial slur — that they had better not be caught by the dogcatcher in Forsyth County after dark. New York Times, 19 May 2022 Beto O’Rourke loses election for dogcatcher, but his rousing concession speech vaults him to the lead in Democratic presidential primaries. Washington Post, 10 Dec. 2020 However, the Spenard PUD did not take action until 1958, finally creating a dogcatcher position. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Nov. 2020 But now, with those radical views, Democrats wouldn’t elect him dogcatcher. John Kass, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2019 In our two-party system, the surest way to accomplish these things is to support the other party, in every race from president to dogcatcher. Jeet Heer, New Republic, 8 Feb. 2018 But a loss like the one Republicans suffered in Alabama will have everyone from the President to ambitious GOP dogcatchers tapping at the brakes. Gregory Krieg, CNN, 13 Dec. 2017 Their adherents couldn’t swing a race for dogcatcher. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 15 Aug. 2017 But could anyone ever actually be elected dogcatcher? Ben Zimmer, WSJ, 27 Oct. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dogcatcher.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1703, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dogcatcher was circa 1703

Dictionary Entries Near dogcatcher

Cite this Entry

“Dogcatcher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogcatcher. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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