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

With Doval on a short leash, Blackburn entered and eventually coughed up the winning run. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026

The difference is her Chihuahua knows to pick fights while on a leash. —Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026

As questions surfaced about why the dog appeared to be off leash, the owner addressed the speculation directly in the comments. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Dogs should also be walked on short leashes. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 29 Mar. 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