Saint Bernard

noun

Saint Ber·​nard -bər-ˈnärd How to pronounce Saint Bernard (audio)
variants or St. Bernard
: any of a Swiss alpine breed of tall powerful working dogs used especially formerly in aiding lost travelers

Illustration of Saint Bernard

Illustration of saint bernard

Examples of Saint Bernard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The University of Wisconsin goaltender's name naturally fit with the rabid Saint Bernard popularized in a Stephen King novel. Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2024 These walking barrels grow up to four feet long and can weigh as much as a Saint Bernard dog. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023 Politics in this town of about 63,000, once a bastion for Republican moderates, have gotten complicated in recent years, with Trumpian Republicanism emerging like a wet Saint Bernard galumphing through a staid garden party. Dan Barry, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2023 In her previous home (shown here), that task involved choosing furnishings and surfaces to accommodate a pack: Haddock, a Brussels griffon; Winnie Cooper, a Great Dane; and Clyde, a Great Dane and Saint Bernard mix. Kit Selzer, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023 The female Saint Bernard held the record for five years, and died in November 2021. Jack Guy, CNN, 6 June 2023 The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (Beaver Creek, Colorado) Bachelor, a Saint Bernard, and Scout, a Bernese mountain dog run the show at this giant log cabin resort etched into the mountains near Vail. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 18 May 2023 German Shepherd Spotted Alone in the Rain Clutching Stuffed Animal Is Rescued with Her Toy Two years ago, a Saint Bernard dog named Daisy was also rescued from Scafell Pike after collapsing during her descent. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 Along with a raffia bag to immediately stain with rhubarb stalks, a cucumbery cocktail and a Saint Bernard–size bouquet from Scarlet & Violet—loose, undone florists whose work comes in five sizes: Pleasing, Wonderful, Glorious, Splendid and Sublime. WSJ, 4 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Saint Bernard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

the hospice of Grand St. Bernard, where such dogs were first bred

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Saint Bernard was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near Saint Bernard

Cite this Entry

“Saint Bernard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Saint%20Bernard. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Saint Bernard

noun
Saint Ber·​nard ˌsānt-bər-ˈnärd How to pronounce Saint Bernard (audio)
: any of a breed of large powerful dogs developed in the Swiss Alps and formerly used in aiding lost travelers

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