retriever: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal for dog breed; technical for computing context.
Quick answer
What does “retriever” mean?
A dog bred to find and bring back shot game to a hunter.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dog bred to find and bring back shot game to a hunter.
1. A person or thing that retrieves something. 2. In computing/IT: software or a service that finds and returns stored data.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning or usage. The dog breed meaning is dominant and identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly associated with family pets, loyalty, and helpfulness. In non-dog contexts, slightly formal or technical.
Frequency
Far more frequent in both varieties as a dog breed term than in its general/technical senses.
Grammar
How to Use “retriever” in a Sentence
[determiner] + retriever[adjective] + retrieverretriever + [prepositional phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “retriever” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He trained his spaniel to retrieve on command.
- The system is designed to retrieve archived emails.
American English
- The dog retrieved the duck from the pond.
- Can your software retrieve files from the old format?
adverb
British English
- [No adverb form derived from 'retriever'.]
American English
- [No adverb form derived from 'retriever'.]
adjective
British English
- [Note: 'retriever' is not standardly used as an adjective. 'Retrieving' or 'retrieval' are used.]
- The retrieving instinct is strong in the breed.
American English
- [Note: 'retriever' is not standardly used as an adjective. 'Retrieving' or 'retrieval' are used.]
- She has a natural retrieving ability.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically ('a data retriever') or in pet-related industries.
Academic
Rare, may appear in canine/zoological studies or computer science (information retrieval).
Everyday
Overwhelmingly used to refer to the dog breed.
Technical
In computing: a component of a search engine or database system.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “retriever”
- Confusing 'retriever' (noun) with 'retrieve' (verb). Using 'retriever' for a person in everyday language sounds stilted.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern everyday English, yes, it almost exclusively refers to a breed of dog. In very specific technical contexts (like computing), it can refer to a tool that retrieves data.
Both are types of gun dogs. Retrievers are bred to find and bring back ('retrieve') shot game. Setters are bred to locate game and 'set' or point at it by freezing in a distinctive stance.
It's possible but very uncommon and sounds either formal or like a job title (e.g., 'a professional key retriever'). In most cases, you would use 'someone who retrieves' or a more specific term like 'recovery agent'.
The stress is on the second syllable: ri-TRIE-ver. The 'ie' sounds like the 'ee' in 'tree'. The British pronunciation may slightly weaken the final 'r' sound.
A dog bred to find and bring back shot game to a hunter.
Retriever is usually neutral to informal for dog breed; technical for computing context. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with 'retriever' as a key component]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A dog that RETRIEVES (gets back) the bird for the hunter.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HELPER/TOOL FOR RECOVERY (e.g., 'This software is a document retriever').
Practice
Quiz
In which field might you encounter the term 'retriever' used in a non-canine context?