sleuthhound: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Archaic, Specialized
Quick answer
What does “sleuthhound” mean?
A dog trained to follow a scent and track people or animals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dog trained to follow a scent and track people or animals; a bloodhound.
A person who investigates mysteries or crimes, especially a detective.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both varieties understand it as either a type of dog or a detective. More likely to appear in British historical or detective fiction.
Connotations
Evokes old-fashioned, 19th-century detective work. Carries a slightly romantic or quaint tone.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects, slightly higher in UK due to historical literary tradition.
Grammar
How to Use “sleuthhound” in a Sentence
The sleuthhound tracked [OBJECT]He worked as a sleuthhoundWith the nose of a sleuthhoundVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sleuthhound” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He would sleuthhound his way through the city's underworld.
- The journalist sleuthhounded the politician's past.
American English
- She sleuthhounded the source of the leak.
- The lawyer sleuthhounded every piece of evidence.
adverb
British English
- He investigated sleuthhoundly through the archives.
- She worked sleuthhoundly on the case.
American English
- He searched sleuthhoundly for the truth.
- The agent proceeded sleuthhoundly.
adjective
British English
- He had a sleuthhound-like determination.
- Her sleuthhound instincts were legendary.
American English
- That reporter has a sleuthhound mind.
- A sleuthhound approach to the problem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Unused
Academic
Rare, possibly in historical linguistics or literary studies.
Everyday
Virtually unused; 'detective' is the standard term.
Technical
Unused in modern criminology; archaic term for tracking dogs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sleuthhound”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sleuthhound”
- Using it in contemporary, non-literary contexts.
- Confusing it with 'bloodhound' (only refers to the dog breed).
- Spelling as 'sluthound'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, archaic, and literary word. The common modern equivalent is 'detective' or 'investigator'.
Literally, they can refer to the same type of tracking dog. Figuratively, 'sleuthhound' specifically means a human detective, while 'bloodhound' can mean either the dog or a very persistent person.
Yes, but it is extremely rare and stylistically marked. It means to investigate or track like a sleuthhound.
It is understood but very rarely used. It carries the same archaic/literary tone as in British English.
A dog trained to follow a scent and track people or animals.
Sleuthhound is usually literary, archaic, specialized in register.
Sleuthhound: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsluːθhaʊnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsluθˌhaʊnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “with the nose of a sleuthhound”
- “to sleuthhound one's way”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SLEUTH (to investigate) + HOUND (dog) = an investigative dog or person.
Conceptual Metaphor
INVESTIGATOR IS A TRACKING DOG (Pursuing clues is like following a scent).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sleuthhound' MOST appropriately used today?