Labrador retriever

American  

noun

1. one of a breed of retrievers having a short, thick, oily, solid black or yellow coat, raised originally in Newfoundland.

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Labrador retriever British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: Labrador.   lab.  a powerfully-built variety of retriever with a short dense usually black or golden-brown coat

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Etymology

Origin of Labrador retriever

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

One client of Alexander Schwartz, a Connecticut divorce attorney, spent about $70,000 on fighting for sole custody of a Labrador retriever that the client and his ex originally bought for $3,000.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Jack, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever with the biggest, friendliest eyes, was gone.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

When Emily, a 12-year-old black Labrador retriever in Texas, began showing signs of old age— intermittent limping and inability to jump on the bed—her owner, Maxine Clegg, started getting nervous about her best friend.

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2025

Combs spent her childhood exploring her village alongside Rosebud, a Labrador retriever mix.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024

Nancy's Labrador retriever puppy, Chocolate Chip, jumped after her.

From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene