bloodhound

noun

blood·​hound ˈbləd-ˌhau̇nd How to pronounce bloodhound (audio)
1
: any of a breed of large powerful hounds of European origin remarkable for acuteness of smell
2
: a person keen in pursuit

Illustration of bloodhound

Illustration of bloodhound
  • bloodhound 1

Examples of bloodhound in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Just as dusk turns to night, Hoot the bloodhound picks up a scent. — Ronnie Li, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026 Mason, a bloodhound puppy who is already the most popular cop in the building. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026 The tactic works, with a small army of bloodhounds surprising and overpowering the transport on the way to police headquarters. — Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Apr. 2026 Highway Patrol began using bloodhounds about 14 years ago, moving away from dual-purpose dogs to singular-purpose drug dogs and trailing dogs. — ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bloodhound

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bloodhound was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

blood horse
bloodhound
bloodily
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Cite this Entry

“Bloodhound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloodhound. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bloodhound

noun
blood·​hound ˈbləd-ˌhau̇nd How to pronounce bloodhound (audio)
: any of a breed of large powerful hounds with a wrinkled face and a very good sense of smell

More from Merriam-Webster on bloodhound

Nglish: Translation of bloodhound for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bloodhound

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