1
: any of a breed of intelligent dogs that have a curly dense solid-colored coat and that are grouped into standard, miniature, and toy sizes which are often considered separate breeds compare toy poodle
2
: a fabric with a nubby or coarsely looped surface that resembles a poodle's coat
called also poodle cloth
Examples of poodle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The owner of the schnauzer poodle mix was a 60-year-old woman from Los Angeles, according to Carol Capas with the Sheriff's Office.
—
Wren Smetana, USA Today, 11 July 2025
The dogs were having some downtime when Fitzpatrick checked in, and while Leo, a mini poodle, chihuahua, Pomeranian, and cocker spaniel mix, was snoozing on his basic cot, his neighbor had a far more luxury setup.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Angel Contreras went to the San Diego Humane Society’s Gaines Street shelter on Sunday to pick up his elderly poodle after spotting her on the shelter’s website.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2025
For instance, the Commercial spotlighted the dog kennels, featuring greyhounds, Saint Bernards and poodles.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
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Wren Smetana, USA Today, 11 July 2025
The dogs were having some downtime when Fitzpatrick checked in, and while Leo, a mini poodle, chihuahua, Pomeranian, and cocker spaniel mix, was snoozing on his basic cot, his neighbor had a far more luxury setup.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Angel Contreras went to the San Diego Humane Society’s Gaines Street shelter on Sunday to pick up his elderly poodle after spotting her on the shelter’s website.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2025
For instance, the Commercial spotlighted the dog kennels, featuring greyhounds, Saint Bernards and poodles.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for poodle
Cite this Entry
“Poodle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poodle. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poodle
noun
poo·dle
ˈpüd-ᵊl 
: any of a breed of active intelligent dogs that have thick curly coats of solid color and that occur in three sizes
Etymology
from German Pudel, a shortened form of Pudelhund "poodle," from pudeln "to splash" and Hund "dog"
Word Origin
Poodles often have their coats cut in different patterns. Both their haircuts and their name go back to a time when poodles were kept not as house pets but as retrievers. Poodles were especially good at retrieving game in the water. The dogs were good swimmers, and they had heavy coats that kept them warm even in icy water. Hunters cut their dogs' hair shorter in a pattern that would make swimming easier. Cutting poodles' hair in a pattern soon became a tradition. The German name for this skillful swimmer was Pudelhund. This word combined pudeln, meaning "to splash," and hund, meaning "dog." It was then shortened to Pudel, which English borrowed as poodle.
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