greyhound
Americannoun
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greyhounds
plural
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one of a breed of tall, slender, short-haired dogs, noted for its keen sight and swiftness.
-
a swift ship, especially a fast ocean liner.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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:
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
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:
Its velvet binding has metal corner guards bearing her crowned falcon with a lion rampant, dragon and greyhound, and Anne’s motifs recur in the illuminations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
New Zealand announced the greyhound racing ban following three independent reviews into the sport in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
He predicted that with his track shut, greyhound racing would die out in Scotland.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
She told MSPs that a new track would not have received planning permission, adding it "beggars belief" parliament found time to debate a bill that does "little or nothing" for greyhound safety.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
Cutwater dropped the prince and was off like a greyhound.
From "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman
Officials have confirmed 80 greyhounds were exported from New Zealand to Queensland through a chartered flight in April 2025.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
It was first synthesized from thymosin β4 in 2003 and has since been used to help horses and greyhounds improve racing performance.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Spencer also describes herself as a marathon runner and "housemate to four rescued greyhounds", with the dogs spotted campaigning with her in the constituency.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
Prior to November 2023, Mr Rushe's life centred around his family and his greyhounds.
From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2025
Her two metal greyhounds growled at her side.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
