retriever
noun
re·triev·er
ri-ˈtrē-vər 
: one that retrieves
especially
: a dog of any of several breeds having a heavy water-resistant coat and used especially for retrieving game
Examples of retriever in a Sentence
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The golden retriever and Labrador retrievers, popular pets who have never won Best in Show, were fan favorites, as were a Sussex spaniel named Goober and one of the Best in Show competitors, an Old English sheepdog named Graham.
—
Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Other breeds among the gifted dogs that participated in the study were a German shepherd, a Labrador retriever, a miniature Australian shepherd, a Blue Heeler and Australian Shepherd mix.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
The five retrievers at Newark Airport were from the Tri-state area.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Lab retrievers are known to be water dogs.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
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Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Other breeds among the gifted dogs that participated in the study were a German shepherd, a Labrador retriever, a miniature Australian shepherd, a Blue Heeler and Australian Shepherd mix.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
The five retrievers at Newark Airport were from the Tri-state area.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
Lab retrievers are known to be water dogs.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retriever
Cite this Entry
“Retriever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retriever. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retriever
noun
re·triev·er
ri-ˈtrē-vər
: one that retrieves
especially
: a dog (as a golden retriever) of any of several breeds having a heavy water-resistant coat and used especially for retrieving game
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