kibble

1 of 2

noun

kib·​ble ˈki-bəl 

plural kibbles

1

: coarsely ground meal or grain typically used as animal feed

especially : small, dry pellets of processed food for pets (such as dogs and cats)

She refilled Moosh's water bowl and checked his supply of kibble.

—Anne Tyler

… the high costs of shipping products like 40-pound bags of kibble.

—Brad Stone

2

: a pellet of kibble

—usually plural

The treats should be tiny so that she does not get full. Cat food kibbles make a good treat because they are tiny and usually palatable to dogs.

—Katherine A. Houpt

Americans' pets are undoubtedly the best-fed animals in the world, but it costs their owners a lot to keep them in kibbles.

—Jake Chapline

kibble

2 of 2

verb

kibbled; kibbling ˈki-b(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to grind coarsely

kibbled dog biscuit

kibbled grain

Examples of kibble in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For safety's sake, always situate heavier items, such as a wet vacuum or tub of dog kibble, on lower shelves for ease in lifting. —Kelly Roberson, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2025

From taste to kibble size to gravy preferences, there’s a world of choices out there thanks to feline research. —Jackie (ott) Jaakola, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Any old pet food won't do – hamsters need nutritionally balanced pellets designed for hamsters, just like kibble for dogs. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024

Pet food: Dry kibble, wet food, and specialty diets for dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles and small pets. —Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1790, in the meaning defined above