1
: a fight between dogs
broadly
: a fiercely disputed contest
2
: a fight between two or more fighter planes usually at close quarters
dogfight
intransitive verb
Examples of dogfight in a Sentence
He was shot down in a dogfight over enemy territory.
The election has turned into a real dogfight.
Recent Examples on the Web
And that word — dogfight — evokes two words that apply to a lot of the talk that came up often after Canadiens practice at Honda Center on Thursday.
—
Arpon Basu, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
In addition, it will be designed to deliver long-range missile punches instead of engaging in dogfights.
—David Szondy
march 01, New Atlas, 1 Mar. 2026
What seemed a given a month ago — Colorado finishing first in the Central and the West and likely the entire league — could be more of a dogfight in the next few weeks than expected.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Royce Williams, who is eligible to receive the Medal of Honor for his 1952 dogfight against seven Soviet MiGs, which was classified top secret for more than 50 years.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
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Arpon Basu, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
In addition, it will be designed to deliver long-range missile punches instead of engaging in dogfights.
—David Szondy
march 01, New Atlas, 1 Mar. 2026
What seemed a given a month ago — Colorado finishing first in the Central and the West and likely the entire league — could be more of a dogfight in the next few weeks than expected.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Royce Williams, who is eligible to receive the Medal of Honor for his 1952 dogfight against seven Soviet MiGs, which was classified top secret for more than 50 years.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Cite this Entry
“Dogfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogfight. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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