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Doberman pinscher

American  
[doh-ber-muhn pin-sher] / ˈdoʊ bər mən ˈpɪn ʃər /

noun

  1. one of a German breed of medium-sized, short-haired dogs having a black, brown, or blue coat with rusty brown markings.


Doberman pinscher British  
/ ˈdəʊbəmən ˈpɪnʃə /

noun

  1. Also spelt: Dobermann.  a fairly large slender but muscular breed of dog, originally from Germany, with a glossy black-and-tan coat, a short tail, and erect ears

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Doberman pinscher

First recorded in 1915–20; named after Karl Friedrich Ludwig Dobermann (1834-94), German dog breeder + German Pinscher “terrier,” perhaps based on Pinzgau, a district in Austria noted for its breeding farms

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Earlier this week, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — one of the most prestigious events in the dog world — crowned its latest Best in Show winner, Penny, a Doberman pinscher.

From Salon Feb. 8, 2026

In court, Anderson paraded her Doberman pinscher in front of a jury, claiming the dog sniffed blood inside the suspect’s home.

From Science Magazine Oct. 13, 2021

Washingtonian magazine called Mr. Sandground “the bad boy of the divorce bar,” noting such office decor as the oil painting of a rat and photo of an angry Doberman pinscher.

From Washington Post Jan. 11, 2021

A California police chief investigates a baffling death blamed on a Doberman pinscher.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 26, 2020

Another mean-looking dog, a Doberman pinscher, slunk out of the shadows behind the bulldog.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

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