pup

noun \ ˈpəp \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Definition of pup

1 : a young dog; also : one of the young of various animals (such as a seal or rat)

2 : offset 2a

See pup defined for English-language learners

See pup defined for kids

Recent Examples of pup from the Web

On Thursday, the official trailer for the dog-umentary Pick of the Litter dropped, introducing viewers to five friendly pups who were born to train as Guide Dogs for the Blind.

— kate hogan, PEOPLE.com, "The Cutest Movie Trailer of the Summer Is Here (Spoiler Alert: It's All About Puppies!)," 14 June 2018
Fish and Game did gas wolf pups in dens but only in one program in 2008 and 2009, officials say.

— zaz hollander, Anchorage Daily News, "Federal judge rejects predator-control lawsuit against Interior Department," 8 June 2018
Features include live music, local vendors, a dance party, and a pup parade.

— steve heisler, Chicago Reader, "Don't miss these 11 Pride-themed events," 7 June 2018
The wolf population typically doubles in spring after pups are born and then declines through winter.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: With at least 900 wolves in the state, it's time to gauge public attitudes again," 6 June 2018
In addition to offering more extensive services such as day care, boarding, and baths, the business provides a fully equipped dog park to keep pups entertained while their owners can get a drink with friends.

— hannah lang, charlotteobserver, "This building once housed an engineering firm. Now it'll be a beer-friendly dog park.," 5 June 2018
On Friday, a harp seal pup washed ashore with a small plastic film in its gut, a rare case because seals generally don’t mistake plastic for food.

— elaina zachos, National Geographic, "How This Whale Got Nearly 20 Pounds of Plastic in Its Stomach," 4 June 2018
Sounds like Pippi, pup about town, is in good hands.

— emily wang, Teen Vogue, "Jennifer Lawrence Reportedly Took Her Dog as Her Date to a Gala," 1 June 2018
Enter former Sony employee Nobuyuki Norimatsu, whose A-Fun repair shop offered a lifeline to any malfunctioning pups.

— david scharfenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "Innovation of the Week: Funeral for robot dogs," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pup.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pup

short for puppy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1542

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

pup

verb

Definition of pup

pupped; pupping

intransitive verb

: to give birth to pups

Recent Examples of pup from the Web

Coyotes have been known to advance on, growl at or surround dog walkers and their pets, a pattern of aggression that is natural for the wild canines during pupping season, which begins in the spring and continues through the summer.

— peter fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle, "Coyote alert: SF is home to seven new pups in the Presidio," 4 June 2018
The City Council decided in 2014 to limit access to the beach during pupping season in response to concerns that people were harassing the seals.

— joshua emerson smith, latimes.com, "La Jolla Children's Pool closes for pupping season as legal war continues," 15 Dec. 2017
Kourtney and her daughter Penelope Disick have already named their sister pup Honey, but Kim is taking her decision beyond the family.

— kelli bender, PEOPLE.com, "North West's New Puppy (Finally) Has the Yummiest Name!," 27 June 2017
The controversial beach in La Jolla known as Children’s Pool has reopened this week after being closed since December for harbor seal pupping season.

— joshua emerson smith, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Children’s Pool beach reopens as legal battle over seals continues," 16 May 2017