variants
or less commonly lap dog
plural lapdogs also lap dogs
1
: a small dog (such as a Chihuahua or Pomeranian) that may be held in the lap
2
: a servile dependent or follower
"We had a choice of being attack dogs or lapdogs," said a G.O.P. lawmaker.—
Jacob V. Lamar
Jacob V. Lamarlap dog politicians
Examples of lapdog in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a sane world, Congress would put a stop to it and reassert its own power to regulate import duties; unfortunately, this particular GOP Congress seems content enough to be a lapdog watching Trump usurp them and damage the economy and our international standing.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
Customers pay by the seat, so there’s no charge for lapdogs.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
The company’s founder and CEO, Tom Stevens, says the idea to create the robotic lapdog came from his mother, who had to give up her real dog after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
—Rena Goldman, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Jan. 2026
The ultimate souvenir for visitors to Yellowstone National Park early that summer was a closeup of Sylvia, a 225-pound grizzly bear, and her trio of cubs, each of whom was no larger than a lapdog.
—JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapdog
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
Customers pay by the seat, so there’s no charge for lapdogs.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
The company’s founder and CEO, Tom Stevens, says the idea to create the robotic lapdog came from his mother, who had to give up her real dog after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
—Rena Goldman, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Jan. 2026
The ultimate souvenir for visitors to Yellowstone National Park early that summer was a closeup of Sylvia, a 225-pound grizzly bear, and her trio of cubs, each of whom was no larger than a lapdog.
—JSTOR Daily, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapdog
Cite this Entry
“Lapdog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapdog. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lapdog
noun
lap·dog
ˈlap-ˌdȯg 
: a dog small enough to be held in the lap
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