greyhound

noun

grey·​hound ˈgrā-ˌhau̇nd 

: any of a breed of tall slender graceful smooth-coated dogs characterized by swiftness and keen sight and used for coursing game and racing

also : any of several related dogs compare Italian greyhound

Illustration of greyhound

Examples of greyhound in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lucy Culliton won the AU$40,000 Sulman Prize—presented for the best genre painting, subject painting, or mural—for Toolah, artist model, an oil-on-canvas painting of one of her seven greyhounds. —News Desk, Artforum, 8 May 2026

Lightning, in other words, was built like a greyhound, not a house cleaner. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026

Animal rights advocates are pushing to ban betting on out-of-state greyhound races in Rhode Island. —Katherine Gregg, The Providence Journal, 20 Mar. 2026

For a moment, the plane quivered around them like a greyhound straining on a leash. —Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grehound, from Old English grīghund, from grīg- (akin to Old Norse grey bitch) + hund hound

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing greyhound

• Italian greyhound

Rhymes for greyhound

• abound
• aground
• around
• astound
• background
• campground
• clothbound
• confound
• earthbound
• eastbound
• expound
• fairground

Kids Definition

greyhound

noun

grey·​hound ˈgrā-ˌhau̇nd 

: any of a breed of tall slender swift dogs with a smooth coat and narrow head