leash

noun

ˈlēsh 

1

a

: a line for leading or restraining an animal

b

: something that restrains : the state of being restrained

keeping spending on a tight leash

2

a

: a set of three animals (such as greyhounds, foxes, bucks, or hares)

b

: a set of three

leash transitive verb

Examples of leash in a Sentence

put a dog on a leash

Dogs must be kept on a leash while in the park.

The dog saw a cat and was straining at its leash trying to get at it.

Recent Examples on the Web

She can be seen sitting in a dog pen with a leash attached to her collar. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Smartly dressed in black topcoat and hat, a leash dangling in his left hand, Caillebotte looks down at the cobblestone pavement at his sheepdog, who awaits its master’s next move. —James Meyer, Artforum, 1 May 2025

Since 1957, Beijing, via its Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, has kept a tight leash on millions of Chinese Catholics. —Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025

On March 18, Jeffes was seen beating Rusty with a metal chain leash and carrying him by his collar, prosecutors said. —Paloma Chavez, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lees, leshe, from Anglo-French *lesche, lesse, probably from lesser to leave, let go

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing leash

• leash law
• strain at the leash

Rhymes for leash

• quiche
• pastiche
• unleash

Kids Definition

leash

noun

ˈlēsh 

1

: a line for leading or controlling an animal

2

: something that restrains : the state of being restrained

kept spending on a tight leash

leash verb