pet

The word “pet” means an animal kept at home for companionship rather than work or food. In plain terms, an animal kept for companionship, or (as an adjective) someone's favorite thing/topic.

“Pet” is pronounced peht (/pɛt/ in IPA).

Here is “pet” used in a sentence: “They adopted a rescue dog as a family pet.”

Words with a similar meaning to “pet” include companion animal, grope, touch up, cosset, feel up and coddle.

Depending on how it is used, “pet” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

The word “pet” comes from Scottish Gaelic. From Scots pet ("a tamed animal, or a spoiled darling"), probably from Scottish Gaelic peata.

“Pet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Pet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an animal kept at home for companionship rather than work or food.

A pet is an animal kept mainly for companionship and enjoyment, such as a dog or cat. Livestock are animals raised for work or food, like cattle, sheep, or chickens. The same species can be either — a rabbit may be a beloved pet in one home and farm livestock in another.

Dogs and cats are by far the most popular pets worldwide, valued for companionship and affection. Other common choices include fish, rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs, along with pet birds such as budgerigars. Reptiles like tortoises and lizards are kept too, though they suit more specialised owners.

The defining factor is purpose. A pet is kept for companionship and pleasure, living alongside people as part of the household. A working animal earns its keep through a task — herding, guarding, pulling loads, or hunting. The same dog could be a family pet or a working sheepdog depending on its role.