1
: any of a breed of intelligent dogs that have a curly dense solid-colored coat and that are grouped into standard, miniature, and toy sizes which are often considered separate breeds compare toy poodle
2
: a fabric with a nubby or coarsely looped surface that resembles a poodle's coat
called also poodle cloth
Examples of poodle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Police are urging the owner of a pit bull that fatally attacked a mini poodle Friday evening in Santa Monica near Main and Strand streets to come forward.
—
Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Billy, a French poodle who lives in the penthouse in my apartment building, enjoys watching CNN, falling asleep during the lengthy commercials, but perking up again for the news.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2025
In the comments section, the TikToker clarified that the dog was mostly a Cavapoo, a mix between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a poodle.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
While the actress does not reveal their breeds, their fluffy, curly coats suggest some kind of poodle mix.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
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Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Billy, a French poodle who lives in the penthouse in my apartment building, enjoys watching CNN, falling asleep during the lengthy commercials, but perking up again for the news.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2025
In the comments section, the TikToker clarified that the dog was mostly a Cavapoo, a mix between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a poodle.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
While the actress does not reveal their breeds, their fluffy, curly coats suggest some kind of poodle mix.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poodle
Cite this Entry
“Poodle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poodle. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poodle
noun
poo·dle
ˈpüd-ᵊl 
: any of a breed of active intelligent dogs that have thick curly coats of solid color and that occur in three sizes
Etymology
from German Pudel, a shortened form of Pudelhund "poodle," from pudeln "to splash" and Hund "dog"
Word Origin
Poodles often have their coats cut in different patterns. Both their haircuts and their name go back to a time when poodles were kept not as house pets but as retrievers. Poodles were especially good at retrieving game in the water. The dogs were good swimmers, and they had heavy coats that kept them warm even in icy water. Hunters cut their dogs' hair shorter in a pattern that would make swimming easier. Cutting poodles' hair in a pattern soon became a tradition. The German name for this skillful swimmer was Pudelhund. This word combined pudeln, meaning "to splash," and hund, meaning "dog." It was then shortened to Pudel, which English borrowed as poodle.
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