collie

noun

col·​lie ˈkä-lē How to pronounce collie (audio)
: any of a breed of large dogs developed in Scotland that occur in rough-coated and smooth-coated varieties and have erect ears and a long muzzle

Illustration of collie

Illustration of collie

Examples of collie 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.
Despite everything Mia has been through, the Border collie hasn’t given up hope on humans, according to the post, which has over 270 likes. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025 Lockhart made an indelible mark playing Ruth Martin, the foster mother of John Provost’s character, Timmy, and his collie Lassie, on the series Lassie beginning in 1958. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2025 These puppies, believed to be a collie-working dog crossbreed, were left in the park, posing a threat to the local wildlife. Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2025 Anderson’s voice as Flo, the soulful collie in 1989’s All Dogs Go to Heaven, was my generation’s first brush with her magic. Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for collie

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect colly black

First Known Use

circa 1651, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of collie was circa 1651

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Cite this Entry

“Collie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collie. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

collie

noun
col·​lie ˈkäl-ē How to pronounce collie (audio)
: any of a breed of large dogs developed in Scotland for herding sheep

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