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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is a tale where gruesome deaths (from sepsis to car crashes) exist alongside running gags about Amanda Knox, wedding kimonos and a Saint Bernard named Ruby Hot Sauce. Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024 In the 1930s, a group of Swiss priests from the Grand Saint Bernard Hospice in the Alps arrived to supplement the French contingent, deploying their expertise in mountain living. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 17 Dec. 2024 Bondi adopted Tank, a Saint Bernard, in October 2005, renaming him Noah. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024 That includes Rothmans in New York, Saint Bernard in Texas and The Optimist in California. Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Saint Bernard 

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 8 Jan. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on Saint Bernard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!