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

For him the leash was for fun, and the harness for work. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

Dogs that are off leash and get between a bear and their escape route, their food, or their cubs will cause this reaction — this was not an unprovoked attack, and hunting bears would not have prevented it. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025

About halfway through the hike, the dogs went off leash but stayed close. —Steve Lopez, Mercury News, 24 June 2025

In reality, tossing the leash on the counter requires just as much mental and physical energy as hanging it on a hook (preferably one that's not in your kitchen). —Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 17 June 2025

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