top dog

noun

1. a person, group, or nation that has acquired a position of highest authority.

2. the winner of a competition or rivalry; champion.

   He was determined to be top dog at the swimming meet.

3. Animal Behavior.,  the alpha male or alpha female in a dominance hierarchy.

top dog

noun

1. informal,  the leader or chief of a group

Other Word Forms

• top-dog adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of top dog¹

First recorded in 1885–1900

Idioms and Phrases

see top banana.

Example Sentences

Noem is the top dog in U.S. natural disaster response, which is under fire following deadly floods in Texas.

From Salon

He was the top dog in the division.

From BBC

Whoever stands in the middle of the group is designated the “center,” and therefore, the season's top dog.

From Salon

In Season 1, In-ho acted as the Front Man, the top dog controlling the games and calling the shots.

From Salon

In Tiger Woods fashion of yesteryear, no-one came close to challenging his position as top dog all year long.

From BBC

Related Words

• administrator 
• agent 
• bureaucrat 
• civil servant 
• commissioner 
• director 
• executive 
• leader 
• manager 
• minister 
• officer 
• representative 
• secretary