seeing-eye dog: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (regionally specific, formal contexts)Formal, informational, somewhat dated; 'guide dog' is the more common modern term.
Quick answer
What does “seeing-eye dog” mean?
A specially trained guide dog for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specially trained guide dog for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Informal term for a guide dog; metaphorically can refer to any person or thing that provides guidance or direction to someone who lacks perception or knowledge in a particular area.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'seeing-eye dog' is almost exclusively American. In British English, 'guide dog' is the standard, universally understood term.
Connotations
American: specific, historical, sometimes seen as a trademark-infused term. British: 'guide dog' is neutral, functional, and preferred.
Frequency
In the US, 'guide dog' is also common and increasingly used interchangeably with 'seeing-eye dog', though the latter retains a specific institutional connection.
Grammar
How to Use “seeing-eye dog” in a Sentence
have a seeing-eye dogbe accompanied by a seeing-eye dogtrain a seeing-eye dogrely on a seeing-eye dogVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seeing-eye dog” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The charity provides guide dogs, not specifically seeing-eye dogs.
- He navigated the station confidently with his guide dog.
American English
- She applied to get a seeing-eye dog from the training school.
- The seeing-eye dog expertly avoided the obstacle on the pavement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in accessibility policy documents or disability service descriptions.
Academic
Used in historical or sociological texts discussing disability aids and training programs.
Everyday
Understood, but 'guide dog' is more common. Might be used by older generations in the US.
Technical
Used in specific contexts related to guide dog training institutions (e.g., The Seeing Eye school).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seeing-eye dog”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seeing-eye dog”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seeing-eye dog”
- Using 'seeing-eye dog' in UK contexts where it sounds unnatural.
- Misspelling as 'seeing-eye-dog' (hyphenated compound adjective form is standard).
- Using it as a generic term for any service dog.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, functionally they are the same. 'Seeing-eye dog' is a type of guide dog, but the term is closely associated with a specific American training school and is less common globally than the generic 'guide dog'.
It will be understood, but it marks you as using an Americanism. 'Guide dog' is the natural, preferred term in British English.
The name comes from 'The Seeing Eye', the first guide dog school established in the United States in 1929. The term poetically describes the dog's role: it acts as the 'eyes' for its handler.
No, while Labradors and Golden Retrievers are very common breeds for this work due to their temperament, other breeds like German Shepherds are also successfully trained as seeing-eye/guide dogs.
A specially trained guide dog for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Seeing-eye dog is usually formal, informational, somewhat dated; 'guide dog' is the more common modern term. in register.
Seeing-eye dog: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiːɪŋ ˌaɪ ˌdɒɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsiɪŋ ˌaɪ ˌdɔːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to act as) someone's seeing-eye dog (figurative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The dog provides 'SEEING' for the blind person's 'EYE'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE GUIDE IS A SUBSTITUTE SENSE ORGAN (the dog becomes the person's eyes).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following statements about 'seeing-eye dog' is most accurate?