puppy

noun

pup·​py ˈpə-pē 

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

ˈpə-pē-ˌhu̇d 

noun

puppyish

ˈpə-pē-ish 

adjective

puppylike

ˈpə-pē-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of puppy in a Sentence

Our dog just had four puppies.

Recent Examples on the Web

More puppy raisers are needed to train the golden retriever puppies the organization uses. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025

Animal Control Officers with the Harford County Sheriff's Office found three yellow lab puppies abandoned in the woods of Havre de Grace Wednesday. —Kiersten Hacker, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2025

Yeah, that there’s a guy in a puppy suit walking around set. —Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025

Muster Dogs follows six animal farmers from across the country who are each given a puppy from the same litter and then face the task of training them up to be herding dogs in just one year. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing puppy

• foster dog/cat/puppy/kitten
• hush puppy
• mud puppy
• one sick puppy
• one tired puppy
• puppy dog
• puppy fat
• puppy love
• puppy mill

Rhymes for puppy

• guppy
• yuppie

Kids Definition

puppy

noun

pup·​py ˈpəp-ē 

plural puppies

: a young domestic dog

especially : one less than a year old