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)

A service animal is trained to assist a disabled person by performing specific tasks …

—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

Kroger has signage on its entrance doors that informs customers that only service animals are allowed in stores. —Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Dec. 2025

Following her retirement from acting, Watson co-founded the nonprofit Train Rite, helping train shelter dogs to work as service animals. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Dec. 2025

Guide dogs and other service animals with current rabies certification. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 22 Dec. 2025

The parks permit some service animals on rides and allow some disabled guests to leave a line and rejoin their party before boarding a ride. —Mike Schneider, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above