puppy

noun

pup·​py ˈpə-pē 

plural puppies

1

: a young domestic dog

specifically : one less than a year old

2

: baby sense 4

a computer that is one fast puppy

puppyhood

ˈpə-pē-ˌhu̇d 

noun

puppyish

ˈpə-pē-ish 

adjective

puppylike

ˈpə-pē-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of puppy in a Sentence

Our dog just had four puppies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Broward Sheriff's Office deputies were honored by city officials in Parkland for their role in the dramatic rescue of several puppies and their parents from a burning home in June. — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Here, see the stars with the buzziest movies and TV projects at the festival — plus some adorable puppies, courtesy of Project Paws! — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026

Matthew Denton, a sheriff's deputy in Ohio's Medina County, has a new dog with a new name, Trooper, in a nod to highway patrol officer John Kronander who found the gray and white puppy abandoned in a crate without food or water at a rest area. — Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026

Kronander pulled out his phone and showed Matthew Denton, a sergeant with the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, a photo of a gray and white puppy. — Sydney Page, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English popi, from Middle French poupée doll, toy, from *poupe

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing puppy

• foster dog/cat/puppy/kitten
• hush puppy
• mud puppy
• one sick puppy
• one tired puppy
• puppy dog
• puppy dog eyes
• puppy eyes
• puppy fat
• puppy love
• puppy mill

Rhymes for puppy

• guppy
• yuppie

Kids Definition

puppy

noun

pup·​py ˈpəp-ē 

plural puppies

: a young domestic dog

especially : one less than a year old