dogleg: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal, technical (golf)
Quick answer
What does “dogleg” mean?
A sharp bend or turn, especially one resembling the shape of a dog's hind leg.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sharp bend or turn, especially one resembling the shape of a dog's hind leg.
A sharp bend in a road, path, or fairway; a detour or indirect route; in golf, a hole where the fairway bends sharply to the left or right.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English, particularly in the golfing context. In UK English, 'hairpin bend' might be preferred for roads.
Connotations
Neutral-descriptive; implies inconvenience or a challenge to navigate.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in general language; higher frequency in specific domains like golfing (both regions) and road/trail descriptions (more common in US).
Grammar
How to Use “dogleg” in a Sentence
The [PATH/ROAD/HOLE] doglegs to the [LEFT/RIGHT].There is a sharp dogleg in the [ROAD/FAIRWAY].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dogleg” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The footpath doglegs sharply to avoid the old oak tree.
- The pipeline doglegs right under the car park.
American English
- Highway 1 doglegs inland for a few miles near Davenport.
- The drainage ditch doglegs around the property line.
adverb
British English
- [Rarely, if ever, used as an adverb]
American English
- [Rarely, if ever, used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- It's a tricky, dogleg par four.
- We followed the dogleg track through the woods.
American English
- The 12th is a famous dogleg left.
- He lives on a dogleg street off the main road.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May describe an indirect process or project path: 'The negotiations took a frustrating dogleg.'
Academic
Very rare outside technical geography or design descriptions.
Everyday
Used for describing winding roads, paths, or hiking trails.
Technical
Standard golf terminology. Used in road engineering, trail design, and plumbing/electrical conduit work.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dogleg”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dogleg”
- Using it for gentle curves (it must be sharp).
- Using it as a verb without an object or direction ('The path doglegs' is incomplete; it should be 'The path doglegs to the left').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it is a standard golf term, it is also used to describe sharp bends in roads, paths, trails, and even pipes or cables.
Yes, though less common. As a verb, it means 'to bend sharply' (e.g., 'The river doglegs to the south').
A hairpin bend is a very tight, often 180-degree turn, typically on a steep hill. A dogleg is a sharp bend, but not necessarily as extreme as a hairpin; it can be any acute angle.
It is generally considered informal or technical. In formal writing, 'sharp bend', 'angle', or 'deviation' might be preferred, except in specific technical fields like golf course architecture.
A sharp bend or turn, especially one resembling the shape of a dog's hind leg.
Dogleg: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒɡleɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɔːɡleɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none specific to 'dogleg']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a dog's hind leg—the joint creates a sharp angle. A 'dogleg' in a road or golf hole looks just like that angle.
Conceptual Metaphor
PATH IS A DOG'S LEG (A path is conceptualized as having the angular, bent shape of a canine limb).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'dogleg' MOST commonly used as a standard technical term?