bulldog

1 of 3

noun

bull·​dog ˈbu̇l-ˌdȯg How to pronounce bulldog (audio)
 also  ˈbəl-
1
: any of a breed of compact muscular short-haired dogs having widely separated forelegs and an undershot lower jaw that were developed in England to fight bulls
2
: a handgun with a thick usually short barrel
3
: a proctor's attendant at an English university

bulldog

2 of 3

adjective

: suggestive of a bulldog
bulldog tenacity

bulldog

3 of 3

verb

bulldogged; bulldogging; bulldogs

transitive verb

: to throw (a steer) by seizing the horns and twisting the neck
bulldogger noun
bulldogging noun

Examples of bulldog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With childlike innocence and almost touching simplicity, Randy (Ethan Suplee) follows Earl (Jason Lee) on his quest for karmic redemption like a loyal bulldog. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 That shorter-nosed bunch included large mastiffs (9 years), beefy English bulldogs (9.3 years) and French bulldogs (9.8 years). Amanda Schupak, CNN, 3 Feb. 2024 The attacking dog was an Olde English bulldog, WBMA reported; it was promptly euthanized, police said. Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 Owner Ali Zacharias was having lunch outside a Whole Foods market when her French bulldog, Onyx, wandered away. Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 3 Feb. 2024 There is also growing evidence that popular flat-faced breeds such as bulldogs and pugs experience greater health complications linked to breathing issues and skin conditions, compared with breeds that have a longer muzzle. Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 2 Feb. 2024 Miniature dachshunds, for instance, which are both small and long-nosed, had a median lifespan of 14 years, compared to just 9.8 years for French bulldogs, which are medium-sized dogs with flat noses. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 Drawer upon drawer reveals antique pens, watches, clocks, cuff links, medals, lighters, more hood ornaments including a bulldog and assorted devils, a complete set of maps for the early British motorist, and a full dining set in a hamper. Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2024 The North Charleston Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that an investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made Police are investigating after a group of men allegedly stole 12 French bulldog puppies from a home in North Charleston. Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
Adjective
This includes Julius, a Dalmatian with hearing loss; Mykonos, an American Staffordshire terrier/bulldog with a cleft palate; and Marmalade, a border collie/Australian cattle dog with sight and hearing impairments. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2023 This has been a hard month for New York City’s French-bulldog community. Curbed, 20 July 2022 Give your bulldog puppy a reason to love mealtime with this puppy food blend from Black Gold. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2022 Audi's design language works well when draped over the shared 108.7-inch wheelbase and 62.3-inch front and 61.5-inch rear track widths, resulting in chunky bulldog styling that looks fetching in SUV form. Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 22 Dec. 2022 This supplement will help ensure your bulldog wards off future digestive issues by preparing the system to be healthier with natural ingredients for a natural boost. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022 His parents were in attendance, along with his bulldog Swoosh, who could be heard panting throughout the press conference as Murray thanked all the family, friends, teammates and coaches who helped him along the way. Dallas News, 22 July 2022 The story starts as far back as early October, when Hale began receiving reports of a stray bulldog mix in a neighborhood of Bay Minette. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 23 Nov. 2022 The result is more interior room and a hint of bulldog stance. Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 15 Nov. 2022
Verb
But Oregon State will most likely turn to bulldog right-hander Ben Ferrer (2-1, 2 saves, 4.39 ERA), who moved into the rotation the final week of the regular season. Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 3 June 2023 Wade Sumpter was the last repeat bulldogging champ in 2012. Jason McDaniel, Houston Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2018

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1518, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1816, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulldog was circa 1518

Dictionary Entries Near bulldog

Cite this Entry

“Bulldog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulldog. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bulldog

1 of 3 noun
bull·​dog ˈbu̇l-ˌdȯg How to pronounce bulldog (audio)
: any of a breed of stocky short-haired dogs with a broad square head and forelegs set widely apart that was developed in England to fight bulls

bulldog

2 of 3 adjective
: suggestive of a bulldog
bulldog courage

bulldog

3 of 3 verb
: to throw a steer by seizing the horns and twisting the neck

More from Merriam-Webster on bulldog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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