Saint Bernard

noun

Saint Ber·​nard -bər-ˈnärd How to pronounce Saint Bernard (audio)
variants or St. Bernard
: any of a Swiss alpine breed of tall powerful working dogs used especially formerly in aiding lost travelers

Illustration of Saint Bernard

Illustration of saint bernard

Examples of Saint Bernard 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.
Minutes later, an officer opened fire on a pet Saint Bernard doodle that was wearing a Knicks shirt. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026 Gone are the days of Lassie, Rin Tin Tin or Chris, the Saint Bernard mix who starred in Beethoven. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025 Siena’s mascot has, in fact, not been associated with any miracles, but is instead an adorable Saint Bernard named Bernie. — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2026 Saint Bernard High School in Uncasville offered to cover the cost of her tuition and connected her to a host family. — Anna Heqimi, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Saint Bernard

Word History

Etymology

the hospice of Grand St. Bernard, where such dogs were first bred

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Saint Bernard was in 1839

Rhymes for Saint Bernard

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Browse Nearby Words

saint benoit
Saint Bernard
Saint-Bernard's-lily
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Cite this Entry

“Saint Bernard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Saint%20Bernard. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Saint Bernard

noun
Saint Ber·​nard ˌsānt-bər-ˈnärd How to pronounce Saint Bernard (audio)
: any of a breed of large powerful dogs developed in the Swiss Alps and formerly used in aiding lost travelers

More from Merriam-Webster on Saint Bernard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Saint Bernard

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