pet
noun
any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
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pet
1 American
[pet]
/ pɛt /
noun
-
any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately.
-
a person especially cherished or indulged; favorite.
He was the teacher's pet.
-
a thing particularly cherished.
adjective
-
kept or treated as a pet.
a pet lamb.
-
especially cherished or indulged, as a child or other person.
-
favorite; most preferred.
a pet theory.
-
showing fondness or affection.
to address someone with pet words.
verb (used with object)
petted,
petting
verb (used without object)
petted,
petting
pet
2
American
[pet]
/ pɛt /
noun
verb (used without object)
PET
3
American
[pet]
/ pɛt /
noun
Computers, Medicine/Medical.
pet.
4
American
abbreviation
Pet.
5
American
abbreviation
pet
1
British
/ pɛt /
noun
-
a tame animal kept in a household for companionship, amusement, etc
-
a person who is fondly indulged; favourite
teacher's pet
adjective
-
kept as a pet
a pet dog
-
of or for pet animals
pet food
-
particularly cherished; favourite
a pet theory
a pet hatred
-
familiar or affectionate
a pet name
-
a single fine day during a period of bad weather
verb
-
(tr) to treat (a person, animal, etc) as a pet; pamper
-
(tr) to pat or fondle (an animal, child, etc)
-
informal (intr) (of two people) to caress each other in an erotic manner, as during lovemaking (often in the phrase heavy petting )
PET
2
British
abbreviation
acronym
pet
3
British
/ pɛt /
noun
verb
Pet.
4
British
abbreviation
pet
Idioms
Usage
What does pet mean? A pet is any animal that is tamed and trained to be kept as a companion, such as a dog or a bird. To pet means to stroke or rub an animal’s fur or body in a cherished way. A pet can also be a person or object that someone cherishes or indulges. Finally, pet can describe something that is cherished, such as a pet theory. Example: She is so extravagant that she has a big birthday party for her pet dog every year.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pet1
First recorded in 1500–10; perhaps back formation from pet lamb. shortened variant of petty lamb “little lamb”; see petty
Origin of pet2
First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; cf. pettish
Origin of PET3
First recorded in 1975–80
Explanation
A pet is an animal you keep as a companion, usually in your house. People love to pet, or touch, their pets. A pet is also a favorite. A teacher’s pet is the teacher’s fave student. No barking required. Your pet might be a hamster in a cage or a big dog that sleeps in your bed. Farm animals, like cows and goats, aren't usually considered to be pets, but that’s how the word started. Pet comes from Scottish dialect and used to refer to a favorite animal that got to come live inside, like Wilbur the pig in Charlotte’s Web. Pet is also a creepy form of endearment. When pet is a verb, it means “to stroke or caress.”
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:
First, I asked my Facebook friends about their experiences with pet insurance — and their responses varied wildly:
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Another pet peeve for many are sketchy cycling lanes in a city where 18 percent of all trips are made by bike.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
Gen Z is fueling the increase in pet ownership.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
They might also pet them from a distance with a retractable cat scratcher.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Instead, I lean forward to inhale the scent of rotting fruit for a long moment before wrapping the scarf back around my pet pineapple.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Danish intelligence agency PET in September warned that Russia was "actively preparing acts of sabotage targeting the defence industry in Denmark".
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
Another yeast strain can use ethylene glycol derived from PET to produce beta carotene, which the human body can convert into vitamin A.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
Factories that would normally delay payment started putting down cash upfront "because they were so eager to secure material", said Rizq Yousif, who mainly recycles PET, the plastic widely used in beverage and food packaging.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
That’s roughly how much of the resin used in the U.S. to make PET bottles and other packaging comes from Asia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
“So I went in for a PET scan.”
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
“Or cuddling with your pet. Service and volunteerism can also be a joy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025
Fighting back tears, Ms O'Malley said: "I miss her so much. She was my little friend, my pet. I'm literally dizzy with grief and it's the same every day."
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2024
"People see friends as lonely or wanting companionship, and they recommend getting a pet. But it's unlikely that it'll be as transformative as people think."
From Science Daily ● Nov. 10, 2023
“These are not reasonable loans, the terms are predatory, in some cases doubling the cost of the pet. That’s absurd.”
From Washington Post ● Sep. 30, 2022
“Thank you, sir,” said Travis, looking surprised, “but Bunny’s my pet. I can’t sell him. He’s the biggest, furriest rabbit I’ve ever had.”
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
All the commands that we have for suffering, are either to direct the manner of it, that it be patiently and cheerfully, when forced to it wrongfully, 1 Pet. ii.
From A Hind Let Loose Or, An Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ. With the True State Thereof in All Its Periods by Alexander Shields
There are also h, containing 1 Pet. iv. 17-2 Pet. ii.
From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. II. by Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener
And the Apostle, after mentioning the Mystery of Christ's Sufferings, exhorts, Be ye Holy in all Manner of Conversation, 1 Pet. i.
From John Woolman's Journal by John Woolman
The fulfilment is shown by 1 Pet. ii.
From Christology of the Old Testament: And a Commentary on the Messianic Predictions. Vol. 2 by Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg
"James" is also a homily exhorting to patient endurance, but there is nothing to suggest its having ever been sent anywhere as a letter, save the brief superscription written in imitation of 1st Pet. i.
From The Making of the New Testament by Benjamin Wisner Bacon
I petted my bird by tapping my screen while my real life cat glared at me from a corner.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026
The pair shook hands with members of the public, accepted gifts and flowers, and also petted a few dogs beside some delighted owners.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2025
The sun was shining and our hearts were full as we sipped rosé and petted dogs and horse along the way.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2023
The video of Paora, which was posted to social media, showed him being scratched and petted around the neck and face by a zookeeper, as well as members of the public.
From New York Times ● May 24, 2023
In many ways he was still very primitive, but he liked people a great deal and would lean against your leg to be petted.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
Fumes from a barbecue, or petting a cat or dog, can also trigger an allergic reaction.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Salgado said his father was a routine-oriented family man who left for work early and loved to end the day sitting on his porch, listening to music and petting his dog.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
After building many homes in the Houston suburbs, Lorenzo Salgado finally built his own, where he would sit every evening after work, listening to music and petting his dog, Ronaldo Salgado said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
Capybaras occasionally wander into the café, though petting them isn’t allowed.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
Mrs. Fayne agreed to take the girls back to the petting zoo as long as she could take George's two-year-old brother Scott along.
From "Pony Problems: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #3" by Carolyn Keene
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.
