pit bull

noun

1

or pit bull terrier : a muscular, short-haired, stocky dog (such as an American pit bull terrier or American Staffordshire terrier) of any of several breeds or a hybrid with one or more of these breeds that was originally developed for fighting and is noted for strength, stamina, and tenacity

2

: an aggressive and tenacious person

Synonyms

• barracuda
• fire-breather
• fire-eater
• tiger

Examples of pit bull in a Sentence

a pit bull who won't let anyone stand in her way to the top of the corporate ladder

Recent Examples on the Web

Dog In Shelter For 11 Years Reacts To New Home After Finally Being Adopted By Jack Beresford Senior Life and Trends Reporter 0 The heartwarming moment a senior pit bull got to explore her new forever home after spending 11 years in a shelter has been captured on camera. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

That pit bull also mauled a second person in the residence before biting two police officers outside the building around 4:30 p.m. Monday, according to NBC News in Boston. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 19 Nov. 2024

Texas woman says 'enough is enough' after pit bulls attacked, killed their livestock Michelle Gomez, whose husband shot and killed three pit bulls Friday morning, defends the decision after showing her livestocks' injuries. —Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 8 Aug. 2024

Police declined to confirm the dog's breed, but CBS reports that the dog was a pit bull named Buddha. —Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pit bull

noun

: a dog of any of several breeds originally developed for fighting and noted for strength and stamina