1
: a fight between dogs
broadly
: a fiercely disputed contest
2
: a fight between two or more fighter planes usually at close quarters
dogfight
intransitive verb
Examples of dogfight in a Sentence
He was shot down in a dogfight over enemy territory.
The election has turned into a real dogfight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Four days of fighting was marked by an extensive air battle, one of the largest dogfights since World War II, before the two nuclear rivals reached a ceasefire agreement following U.S. diplomatic efforts.
—
Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Pakistan, which said the planes had bombed an empty hillside and not a camp, launched a retaliatory incursion into Indian airspace that led to a dogfight between the two air forces, leading to the capture of an Indian pilot.
—Asif Shahzad, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Operators can check the blind spot above their drone in a way that was impossible with earlier versions and will change dogfight tactics.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
The increased speed will translate into greater payload capacity, as well as the ability to choose to intercept or run in a dogfight.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
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Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
Pakistan, which said the planes had bombed an empty hillside and not a camp, launched a retaliatory incursion into Indian airspace that led to a dogfight between the two air forces, leading to the capture of an Indian pilot.
—Asif Shahzad, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Operators can check the blind spot above their drone in a way that was impossible with earlier versions and will change dogfight tactics.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
The increased speed will translate into greater payload capacity, as well as the ability to choose to intercept or run in a dogfight.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for dogfight
Cite this Entry
“Dogfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogfight. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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