noun
mongrel
MUHNG-gruhl
Mongrel (noun) means a dog (or other creature) of mixed or uncertain breed. Example: “The shelter was full of friendly mongrels looking for homes.”
noun
1
A dog (or other creature) of mixed or uncertain breed.
"The shelter was full of friendly mongrels looking for homes."
"She adopted a scruffy little mongrel from the rescue centre."
adj
1
Made up of a mixture of breeds, types, or origins.
"The garden was a mongrel mix of styles, part cottage, part modern."
How to use mongrel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething (usually a dog) that’s a mix of different breeds or types rather than one pure kind.
When to use it
Neutral for dogs, but can be an insult if used to describe a person’s ancestry — avoid that usage.
Common pairings
a mongrel dog
a mongrel breed
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Word forms
- Plural
- mongrels
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The shelter was full of friendly _____ looking for homes.
Etymology
From Middle English mongrel, built from "mong" (a mixture, related to "among") plus a diminutive ending that originally carried a negative tone.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “mongrel” mean?
The word “mongrel” means a dog (or other creature) of mixed or uncertain breed. In plain terms, something (usually a dog) that’s a mix of different breeds or types rather than one pure kind.
How do you pronounce “mongrel”?
“Mongrel” is pronounced MUHNG-gruhl (/ˈmɑŋ.ɡɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mongrel” in a sentence?
Here is “mongrel” used in a sentence: “The shelter was full of friendly mongrels looking for homes.”
What part of speech is “mongrel”?
Depending on how it is used, “mongrel” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “mongrel” come from?
The word “mongrel” comes from Middle English. From Middle English mongrel, built from "mong" (a mixture, related to "among") plus a diminutive ending that originally carried a negative tone.
How many meanings does “mongrel” have?
“Mongrel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dog (or other creature) of mixed or uncertain breed.
