puppy

noun

pup·​py ˈpə-pē How to pronounce puppy (audio)
plural puppies
1
: a young domestic dog
specifically : one less than a year old
2
: baby sense 4
a computer that is one fast puppy
puppyhood noun
puppyish adjective
puppylike adjective

Examples of puppy in a Sentence

Our dog just had four puppies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the pooches was giving birth to puppies as police and animal rescue groups went room by room, recovering scores of dogs from the E. 66th St. home near National Drive in Mill Basin. Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 19 July 2025 Officials said 15 adult dogs and one 4-week-old puppy were taken from the property, and that later, four of the dogs went into labor and had puppies. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2025 Veterinarians recommend the best puppy food with all the proper nutrients and tell us which ingredients to avoid. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 16 July 2025 At just 8 weeks old, pit-bull puppy Sebastian found himself in the care of a shelter in California. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for puppy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English popi, from Middle French poupée doll, toy, from *poupe

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of puppy was in 1567

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Puppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puppy. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

puppy

noun
pup·​py ˈpəp-ē How to pronounce puppy (audio)
plural puppies
: a young domestic dog
especially : one less than a year old

More from Merriam-Webster on puppy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!