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golden retriever

American  

noun

  1. one of an English breed of retrievers having a thick, flat or wavy, golden coat.


golden retriever British  

noun

  1. a compact large breed of dog having a silky coat of flat or wavy hair of a gold or dark-cream colour, well-feathered on the legs and tail

"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 golden retriever

First recorded in 1915–20

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.

And, of course, a cute-as-a-button golden retriever who can shoot hoops as well as he can act is always going to hit the mark, he said.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

Imagine a baby Brachiosaurus no bigger than a golden retriever searching for plants alongside its siblings while trying to avoid predators eager for an easy meal.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2026

Sparky and Lopez’s second dog, a golden retriever named Blazer, both went missing Dec. 3 shortly after the porch pirate was captured on a Ring camera leaving the yard with the gate wide open.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

Preparing for the role in his hotel room, he once found himself mimicking the facial movements of his golden retriever, Layla.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 30, 2025

They needed a golden retriever, and they would have nailed the center spread in Better Homes and Gardens.

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin

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