kennel

1 of 3

noun (1)

ken·​nel ˈke-nᵊl 

1

a

: a shelter for a dog or cat

b

: an establishment for the breeding or boarding of dogs or cats

2

: a pack of dogs

kennel

2 of 3

verb

kenneled or kennelled; kenneling or kennelling

transitive verb

: to put or keep in or as if in a kennel

intransitive verb

: to take shelter in or as if in a kennel

kennel

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a gutter in a street

Examples of kennel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After the animal shelter collected the 38 dogs, its kennels reached their full capacity, Northwest SPCA announced in a Wednesday afternoon Facebook post that did not mention the mass rescue. —Ethan Wolin july 25, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025

Anyone interested in Peanut can visit the rescue's website and submit an adoption application, or visit the kennels in person, which open every day at 11 a.m. —Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025

Verb

The growth of pet insurance coincides with a steep run-up in the costs of pet services — from grooming and kenneling to veterinary visits — relative to goods like food, leashes and toys. —Evie Steele, NBC news, 9 July 2025

Faye will also cover up to $2,500 in emergency veterinary expenses or up to $250 in additional kenneling costs. —Liz Knueven, CNBC, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English kenel, from Anglo-French *kenil, from Vulgar Latin *canile, from Latin canis dog — more at hound

Noun (2)

alteration of cannel gutter

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1552, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kennel

• chenille
• fennel
• henle
• antennal
• departmental

Kids Definition

kennel

1 of 2 noun

ken·​nel ˈken-ᵊl 

1

: a shelter for a dog

2

: a place where dogs or cats are bred or housed

kennel

2 of 2 verb

kenneled or kennelled; kenneling or kennelling

: to put or keep in a kennel