service animal

noun

plural service animals

: a domesticated animal and usually a dog that is trained to perform a supportive function for its owner (such as guiding an owner who is blind or alerting an owner who is deaf to sounds)

A service animal is trained to assist a disabled person by performing specific tasks: They guide the blind, signal the hearing-impaired, pull wheelchairs and so on.

—Cecil Adams

Now, service animals help people with a variety of conditions, such as autism, epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder.

—Suzy Fleming Leonard

Michael was able to be retrained as a psychological service animal for Bessler, helping him deal with his traumatic brain injury.

—Alexandra Klausner

Note: Some government agencies (such as the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) have official definitions of service animal that are more restrictive than the term's meaning in general English.

Examples of service animal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Note that prescription wet pet food does not count as an exception to the TSA liquid rule, even for service animals. —Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2024

Businesses also aren’t allowed to request documentation that a dog is registered, licensed or certified as a service animal, although some airlines may require owners to complete paperwork. —Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024

While pets are not allowed in the Domes, service animals that comply with the Milwaukee County ADA Service Animal Procedure are allowed. —Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2024

Pet ownership and service animals are also relatively new concepts in the country, meaning many workplaces, restaurants and other public areas wouldn’t welcome a more traditional helper like a Labrador. —Reuters, CNN, 8 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above