leash

noun

ˈlēsh 

1

a

: a line for leading or restraining an animal

b

: something that restrains : the state of being restrained

keeping spending on a tight leash

2

a

: a set of three animals (such as greyhounds, foxes, bucks, or hares)

b

: a set of three

leash transitive verb

Examples of leash in a Sentence

put a dog on a leash

Dogs must be kept on a leash while in the park.

The dog saw a cat and was straining at its leash trying to get at it.

Recent Examples on the Web

When a class of schoolchildren collides with a group of pups at the park, the teacher and the dog walker pick up the wrong leashes, sending human child George away with the dogs and furry brown Romper off to school for the afternoon. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

Officials suggest that people always keep an eye on their pet while outside, and dogs should be kept on a leash. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026

All this back and forth had knotted the leash around the center console. — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026

The video shows a masked ICE agent taking a pedestrian into custody on the sidewalk, as a man with two dogs on leashes stands nearby. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lees, leshe, from Anglo-French *lesche, lesse, probably from lesser to leave, let go

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing leash

• leash law
• strain at the leash

Rhymes for leash

• quiche
• pastiche
• unleash

Kids Definition

leash

noun

ˈlēsh 

1

: a line for leading or controlling an animal

2

: something that restrains : the state of being restrained

kept spending on a tight leash

leash verb