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.
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.
a tame animal kept in a household for companionship, amusement, etc
a person who is fondly indulged; favourite
teacher's pet
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
(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 )
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.
First recorded in 1500–10; perhaps back formation from pet lamb. shortened variant of petty lamb “little lamb”; see petty
First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; cf. pettish
First recorded in 1975–80
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.”
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"On behalf of our industry, UK Pet Food continues to engage with regulators, scientists, and colleagues in our sector and beyond to ensure new research is carefully considered as scientific understanding develops."
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026
It wasn’t like I was begging for a Pet Rock.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
Roughly 29% of married and unmarried people said pet-related conflicts made their breakups more difficult, according to a MetLife Pet Insurance survey of 1,000 Americans last year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
It has been 10 days of many exams Pet Scan - Cat scan - 2 MRI’s- Biopsy - multiple bloodwork - now at least I know what I face.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
It built a stone of guilt in her chest, and Jam added it to the pile that had been forming there since she told Pet to stay.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
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.
