greyhound

American  

[grey-hound] / ˈgreɪˌhaʊnd /

Or grayhound

noun

1. one of a breed of tall, slender, short-haired dogs, noted for its keen sight and swiftness.

2. a swift ship, especially a fast ocean liner.

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greyhound British  

/ ˈɡreɪˌhaʊnd /

noun

1. a tall slender fast-moving dog of an ancient breed originally used for coursing

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Etymology

Origin of greyhound

before 1000; Middle English greihund, grehund, grihund, Old English grīghund < Old Norse greyhundr; compare Old Norse grey bitch; see hound ¹

Compare meaning

How does greyhound compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Saluki vs. greyhound

Explanation

A greyhound is a long-legged, elegant dog that's known for its speed. Historians believe greyhounds are one of the oldest dog breeds. Dogs resembling greyhounds decorate many ancient Egyptian tombs and Neolithic settlement walls, suggesting that this sleek, muscular dog has been around for thousands of years. In the 20th century, greyhounds were commonly bred for racing — they can run steadily at speeds over 40 miles per hour. Retired racing greyhounds also make sweet companions, and as the sport has declined in the U.S., more and more greyhounds have lived their whole lives as coddled pets. Interestingly, the grey part of the word is of disputed origin, but it does not refer to the dogs' color — as most greyhounds are not gray.

Example Sentences

The U.S. could soon have the “universally detested Temu Greyhound of the Skies.”

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Gil bought William a Greyhound ticket and got him on the bus home.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

‘Bus lines are no longer like your grandfather’s Greyhound.’

From MarketWatch • Nov. 20, 2025

Mamdani bellowed on the oversized television screens hung throughout the Greyhound Bar & Grill.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2025

Other prisoners had been added to the cages throughout the evening, and now there were more than seventy at Camp Greyhound; they were angry.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers