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The quadrupeds include almost all the mammals. (Among the exceptions are whales, bats, and humans.) The Greek equivalent of this Latin word is tetrapod. However, the two are not identical, since the tetrapod classification includes bipeds such as birds, in which two of the limbs are no longer used for walking. Insects all have six legs, of course, and in the sea there are eight-legged octopods (including the octopus). But there are no animals of any kind with an odd number of legs.
Examples of quadruped in a Sentence
Horses and cows are quadrupeds.
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2025, the company set a quadruped speed record with its Black Panther robot, which exceeded 10 metres per second.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Prices typically range from about $5,000 for quadrupeds to $20,000 for humanoids.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Childs Pose Stretch Begin in quadruped position (on all fours, with your hands under your shoulders, and your knees directly under your hips), then sit back into your hips, bringing your hips toward your heels.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
The system combines a quadruped robot equipped with a quadrupole mass spectrometer and a modular autonomy stack, enabling long-distance missions in rough volcanic terrain.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Jan. 2026
The company also released D1, a quadruped robot built for outdoor mobility, patrol, and load-carrying support.
—John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
The quadruped is currently deployed at car manufacturing sites and in hazardous industrial areas around the world.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
More Kent Nishimura/AP A robotic quadruped, also known as a robot dog, during the US Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Kawasaki Which is not to say that ride-on quadrupeds aren't going to be a thing.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
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Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Prices typically range from about $5,000 for quadrupeds to $20,000 for humanoids.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Childs Pose Stretch Begin in quadruped position (on all fours, with your hands under your shoulders, and your knees directly under your hips), then sit back into your hips, bringing your hips toward your heels.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
The system combines a quadruped robot equipped with a quadrupole mass spectrometer and a modular autonomy stack, enabling long-distance missions in rough volcanic terrain.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Jan. 2026
The company also released D1, a quadruped robot built for outdoor mobility, patrol, and load-carrying support.
—John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
The quadruped is currently deployed at car manufacturing sites and in hazardous industrial areas around the world.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
More Kent Nishimura/AP A robotic quadruped, also known as a robot dog, during the US Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Kawasaki Which is not to say that ride-on quadrupeds aren't going to be a thing.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quadruped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quadruped. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quadruped
noun
quad·ru·ped
ˈkwäd-rə-ˌped 
: an animal having four feet
Medical Definition
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