: any of a breed of very large massive powerful smooth-coated dogs that are apricot, fawn, or brindle and are often used as guard dogs
Illustration of mastiff
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe case involved an enormous dog in Nevada named Onion, a 120-pound mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix.—BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 The case involved an enormous dog in Nevada named Onion, a 120-pound mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix.—BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 Hey suggests, because a Chihuahua cannot jump high enough to make puppies with a mastiff.—Richard Conniff, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2010 Burke County Animal Services ended the post by stating that Billy Bob is a mastiff.—Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2022 About the Company: Bully Beds is named after the owner’s dog, Bull, a cane corso mastiff.—Dallas News, 22 Dec. 2022 The case involved an enormous dog in Nevada named Onion, a 120-pound mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix.—BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 The case involved an enormous dog in Nevada named Onion, a 120-pound mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix.—BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 The case involved an enormous dog in Nevada named Onion, a 120-pound mastiff-Rhodesian ridgeback mix.—BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mastiff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English mastif, from Medieval Latin mastivus, from Vulgar Latin *masuetivus, from Latin mansuetus tame — more at mansuetude
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