retriever

noun

re·​triev·​er ri-ˈtrē-vər 

: one that retrieves

especially : a dog of any of several breeds having a heavy water-resistant coat and used especially for retrieving game

Examples of retriever in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The twins were training pigeon retrievers for hunting season when one of the birds fell onto the 10-meter-high power line, according to the outlets. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026

Flying cows, fiddle-playing cats, and chuckling retrievers inhabit the space between ornate columns. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026

Doan is a great puck retriever, which pairs so well with his high-end skill. —Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026

The pastor said that over the past decade or so, the church has sent thousands of illicit Bibles in Farsi to Iran with a WhatsApp number written inside, so the retriever overseas can call or text for more information. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing retriever

• Chesapeake Bay retriever
• curly-coated retriever
• flat-coated retriever
• golden retriever
• Labrador retriever

Rhymes for retriever

• achiever
• believer
• deceiver
• perceiver
• receiver
• reliever
• transceiver
• cleaver
• fever
• leaver
• weaver
• unbeliever

Kids Definition

retriever

noun

re·​triev·​er ri-ˈtrē-vər 

: one that retrieves

especially : a dog (as a golden retriever) of any of several breeds having a heavy water-resistant coat and used especially for retrieving game