dogs: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “dogs” mean?
The plural form of 'dog', referring to the domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The plural form of 'dog', referring to the domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris).
Can also refer collectively to multiple canines, or figuratively to things considered inferior, unpleasant, or untrustworthy (e.g., 'It's a dog's life'). In slang, 'the dogs' can refer to feet or greyhound racing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Dogs' is standard in both. Some breed names may differ (e.g., UK 'Alsatian' vs US 'German Shepherd'). The slang term 'dogs' for feet is more common in American English.
Connotations
Similar in both. Associated with companionship, loyalty, but also sometimes with negativity (e.g., 'going to the dogs').
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “dogs” in a Sentence
[verb] + dogs (e.g., own, feed, walk)dogs + [verb] (e.g., bark, run, sleep)[adjective] + dogs (e.g., friendly, stray, large)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dogs” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He dogs my every step, it's so annoying.
American English
- The reporter dogged the candidate throughout the campaign trail.
adverb
British English
- N/A for plural noun 'dogs'. The related form 'doggedly' is an adverb from the adjective 'dogged'.
American English
- N/A for plural noun 'dogs'. The related form 'doggedly' is an adverb from the adjective 'dogged'.
adjective
British English
- Rare. Found in compounds like 'dogs-body' (a menial worker).
American English
- Rare. Found in compounds like 'dogsled' or 'dog-tired'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in contexts of pet industry, logistics ('dog leg' in a route), or informally for poor performers ('the stocks were dogs').
Academic
Used in biological, veterinary, or behavioural sciences. Plural form is standard for referring to subjects.
Everyday
Extremely common for discussing pets, animals in the neighbourhood, or using idiomatic expressions.
Technical
Used in veterinary medicine, kennel management, dog breeding, and genetics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dogs”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dogs”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dogs”
- Using 'dog' after a plural quantifier (e.g., 'They have two dog').
- Incorrect pronunciation of the final 's' as /s/ instead of /z/.
- Overusing 'dogs' in idioms where the singular form is fixed (e.g., 'call off the dogs' is correct, but 'every dogs has its day' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'dogs' as a verb is the third-person singular present tense of 'to dog' (meaning to follow persistently). The plural noun 'dogs' is never a verb.
It is pronounced as a voiced /z/ sound, not a voiceless /s/. This is because the final sound before the 's' (/ɡ/) is voiced.
No, this is incorrect. 'Dogs' is plural. The singular indefinite article is 'a dog'. 'A dogs' would imply one unit of multiple dogs, which is not standard.
The possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe after the 's': dogs'. For example, 'The dogs' bowls are in the kitchen.'
The plural form of 'dog', referring to the domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris).
Dogs is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's raining cats and dogs”
- “Every dog has its day”
- “Let sleeping dogs lie”
- “The dogs of war”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Dogs have four legs and an 's' at the end, just like many other animals (cats, rats, bats). The 's' is the plural 'tail'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DOMESTIC ANIMALS ARE FAMILY MEMBERS (e.g., 'our dogs', 'fur babies'). UNPLEASANT THINGS/PEOPLE ARE DOGS (e.g., 'You dog!', 'a dog of a day').
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'Let sleeping dogs lie', what does 'dogs' metaphorically represent?