mastiff

noun

mas·​tiff ˈma-stəf 

: 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

Examples of mastiff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What a duo: joker and curmudgeon, greyhound and mastiff, Black and white. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024

New York State Troopers discovered Roxi, a 4-year-old American bull mastiff, tied to a pole next to the westbound lanes of the Southern State Parkway in North Massapequa, cops said. —Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 4 July 2024

There are at least 12 different breeds that can be mistaken for a pit bull — bulldogs, terriers, boxers and mastiffs among them. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2024

Follo’s dog, a cane corso/mastiff named Enzo, was seized by authorities during the investigation and taken to the Central Animal Hospital for evaluation and boarding, Murgo said in a statement Wednesday. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mastif, from Medieval Latin mastivus, from Vulgar Latin *masuetivus, from Latin mansuetus tame — more at mansuetude

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mastiff

noun

mas·​tiff ˈmas-təf 

: any of a breed of large powerful smooth-coated dogs often used as watchdogs and guard dogs