police dog: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral formal; also common in journalistic and informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “police dog” mean?
A dog specially trained to assist police in their duties, such as tracking, search and rescue, or detecting drugs/explosives.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dog specially trained to assist police in their duties, such as tracking, search and rescue, or detecting drugs/explosives.
Can refer broadly to any canine unit member used in law enforcement. May also be used colloquially as a metaphor for a person who is watchful, strict, or investigative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology is identical. 'K-9' (pronounced 'kay-nine') is a common, more technical synonym in US law enforcement contexts.
Connotations
Both carry the same connotations of authority, training, and utility. No significant difference.
Frequency
Both are common. 'Police dog' is slightly more common in general public discourse in the UK, while 'K-9 unit/dog' is frequently heard in US media reports.
Grammar
How to Use “police dog” in a Sentence
The police dog [verb: tracked/searched/found] the suspect.The officer was accompanied by a police dog.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “police dog” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - Not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'Police-dog' as a compound adjective is rare. Use 'police dog training'.
American English
- N/A - 'Police-dog' as a compound adjective is rare. Use 'K-9 training'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in security company contexts.
Academic
Used in criminology, veterinary, or animal training studies.
Everyday
Common in news reports about crime or public demonstrations.
Technical
Standard term in law enforcement and animal training manuals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “police dog”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “police dog”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “police dog”
- Using 'police dog' as a verb (incorrect). Using it to refer to a watchdog for a private home.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A guard dog is trained to protect property. A police dog is trained for specific law enforcement tasks like detection, tracking, and apprehension, and is handled by a sworn officer.
German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers are common due to their intelligence, strength, and trainability.
No, 'police dog' is strictly a noun. You cannot 'police dog' an area. The correct phrasing would be 'to search with a police dog' or 'to deploy a police dog'.
Yes, it is understood and used, particularly within police forces themselves, but 'police dog' remains the dominant term in public-facing British media and conversation.
A dog specially trained to assist police in their duties, such as tracking, search and rescue, or detecting drugs/explosives.
Police dog is usually neutral formal; also common in journalistic and informal contexts. in register.
Police dog: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈliːs dɒɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /pəˈliːs dɔːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(metaphor) 'He has a nose like a police dog' meaning he is very good at finding or detecting things.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the two words literally: 'police' + 'dog'. It's a dog that works for the police, just like a 'police car' or 'police officer'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TOOL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT / A LIVING DETECTOR.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common, technically accurate synonym for 'police dog' used in American law enforcement?