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 canines ranged from 12 months old to 10 years old and the most common breeds were malinois, border collies, and Labrador retrievers. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025

As per their name, goldens are master retrievers, Neher says; however, according to the dog owner, the breed will retrieve everything and anything but gold. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025

Indy, a middle-aged retriever, was cast as the lead in the new horror movie Good Boy by his 'dog parents,' director Ben Leonberg and producer Kari Fischer. —Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025

Tiny and populous, the mighty Chihuahua also sits at No. 2 on a national level, right behind Labrador retrievers. —Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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