Great Dane

American

noun

one of a breed of large, powerful, shorthaired dogs ranging in color from fawn to brindle, blue, black, or white with black spots.

Great Dane British

noun

one of a very large powerful yet graceful breed of dog with a short smooth coat

"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 Great Dane

First recorded in 1765–75

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:

Great Dane

My little office where I write and hang out with my two dogs—a Great Dane and a rescued dachshund.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 2, 2025

The “Mulholland Drive” star discusses grief, David Lynch, how she almost quit acting and her new movie, “The Friend,” in which she bonds with a Great Dane.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2025

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, a Democrat who represents parts of Los Angeles, said he and his fiancée, an attorney, were shut out of renting several places just because of Darius, their well-behaved Great Dane.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 18, 2024

Tell me about your "FUBAR" character, the Great Dane.

From Salon ● Jul. 16, 2023

A big pile that only a person or a Great Dane could have made.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023