Labrador retriever

noun

Lab·​ra·​dor retriever ˈla-brə-ˌdȯr- How to pronounce Labrador retriever (audio)
: any of a breed of medium-sized strongly built retrievers largely developed in England from stock originating in Newfoundland and having a short dense black, yellow, or chocolate coat and a thick rounded tail

called also Lab, Labrador

Illustration of Labrador retriever

Illustration of labrador retriever

Examples of Labrador retriever in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While a typical Labrador retriever or border collie had a median life expectancy of just over 13 years, the researchers found that almost across the board, flat-faced, or brachycephalic, dogs fared worse by that measure. Amanda Schupak, CNN, 3 Feb. 2024 The pit bull/Labrador retriever mix arrived at Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue in Houston over two years ago. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Labrador retriever.' 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

Labrador, Newfoundland

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Labrador retriever was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near Labrador retriever

Cite this Entry

“Labrador retriever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Labrador%20retriever. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Labrador retriever

noun
Lab·​ra·​dor retriever ˌlab-rə-ˌdȯr- How to pronounce Labrador retriever (audio)
: any of a breed of strongly built retrievers having a broad head, a short dense black, yellow, or chocolate coat, and a thick rounded tail

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