bloodhound

noun

blood·​hound ˈbləd-ˌhau̇nd 

1

: any of a breed of large powerful hounds of European origin remarkable for acuteness of smell

2

: a person keen in pursuit

Illustration of bloodhound

• bloodhound 1

Examples of bloodhound in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That's on top of dozens of weapon arts, including bloodhound step, seppuku, rancor slash, and Hoarah Loux's earthshaker, which are applied to corresponding weapons by default and triggered by holding LT while double-handing them. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025

Thirty-three other breeds have won Best in Show, including several poodle breeds, several English springer spaniels and a bloodhound for the first time in 2022 competition. —Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025

The black bear is the terrestrial equivalent of a shark, the sharpest nose in the ocean; its sense of smell is seven times better than a bloodhound’s, several thousand times better than a human’s. —Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024

The clip showed Greta the dachshund on one side of a metal fence, while her favorite canine, a bloodhound puppy, was on the other side. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bloodhound

noun

blood·​hound ˈbləd-ˌhau̇nd 

: any of a breed of large powerful hounds with a wrinkled face and a very good sense of smell