French bulldog

American  

noun

French bulldogs plural

1. one of a French breed of small, bat-eared dogs having a large, square head, a short tail, and a short, sleek coat.

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French bulldog British  

noun

1. a small stocky breed of dog with a sleek coat, usually brindled or pied, a large square head, and large erect rounded ears

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• French bulldogs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of French bulldog

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

They told the landlord they had one French bulldog, despite owning a micro bully and two XL bullies, a breed banned in 2024.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Play, a four-year-old French bulldog, waddled down the street in Noho.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

Officers are also seen trying to catch a loose French bulldog running to a neighbor’s house.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2025

Petersen was then contacted by a neighbor who said their French bulldog ran away and tried to claim Havoc as their own.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2025

She makes extra money as a dog walker, and her main client is the French bulldog who lives across the hall from us.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins