puppy mill

noun

: a commercial farming operation in which purebred dogs are raised in large numbers and often in substandard or poor conditions

Currently, hundreds of thousands of dogs languish in puppy mills, large commercial breeding operations that supply most pet stores across the United States and contribute heavily to the pet overpopulation problem.

—Dog Watch

Examples of puppy mill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By the time Lamb Chop took home the grand prize, the 12-pound Maltese was an advocate for Bailing Out Benji, a nonprofit dedicated to helping puppy mill rescues. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026

This carnage can be lessened by responsible ownership, spaying/neutering — and by adopting rather than buying animals from puppy mills and breeders. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 5 June 2026

There are 10,000 puppy mills estimated to be currently active in the United States, according to Humane World for Animals. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026

Polis said 26 jurisdictions in Colorado have banned puppy mill sales in retail stores. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for puppy mill

• basophil
• carboxyl
• daffodil
• neutrophil
• overkill
• overspill
• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill