pit bull

noun

1

or pit bull terrier : a muscular, short-haired, stocky dog (such as an American pit bull terrier or American Staffordshire terrier) of any of several breeds or a hybrid with one or more of these breeds that was originally developed for fighting and is noted for strength, stamina, and tenacity

2

: an aggressive and tenacious person

Synonyms of pit bull

• tiger

Examples of pit bull in a Sentence

a pit bull who won't let anyone stand in her way to the top of the corporate ladder

Recent Examples on the Web

An Orange County woman is facing federal criminal charges after being accused of luring a pit bull puppy underneath her minivan and running it over in an incident that was caught on video. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026

The family’s pit bull Roscoe also died in the blaze, Diaz said. — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026

Police Chief Todd Bettison says the man released his pit bull on the manager and clerk, causing minor injuries. — Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

These were two pit bull attorneys who’d stood up to companies wrongly trying to kick Floridians out of their homes. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pit bull

• brimful
• handful
• mirthful
• mouthful
• roomful
• spoonful
• full
• pull
• wool

Kids Definition

pit bull

noun

: a dog of any of several breeds originally developed for fighting and noted for strength and stamina