beagle

noun

bea·​gle ˈbē-gəl How to pronounce beagle (audio)
: any of a breed of small short-legged smooth-coated often black, white, and tan hounds

Illustration of beagle

Illustration of beagle

Examples of beagle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the morning of March 15, dozens of activists in white protective suits ran through the rain carrying beagles out of Ridglan Farms, a dog breeding facility near Madison. Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026 Crews with the Jessamine County Fire District rescued a beagle from a nearly 40-foot-deep cave March 21. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Mar. 2026 Some of the beagles taken were recovered and returned to Ridglan Farms, but several remain unaccounted for. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026 In one case that stood out from most, the Justice Department during the Biden administration prosecuted animal research breeder Envigo over both animal welfare and environmental crimes after investigators discovered the mistreatment of thousands of beagles at one of its locations. Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beagle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English begle

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beagle was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beagle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beagle. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

beagle

noun
bea·​gle ˈbē-gəl How to pronounce beagle (audio)
: any of a breed of small hounds with short legs and smooth coats

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