Pekingese

noun

Pe·​king·​ese ˌpē-kə-ˈnēz How to pronounce Pekingese (audio) -ˈnēs How to pronounce Pekingese (audio)
-kiŋ-ˈēz, 
-ˈēs
variants or Pekinese
plural Pekingese or Pekinese
1
a
: the Chinese dialect of Beijing
b
: a native or resident of Beijing
2
: any of a Chinese breed of small short-legged dogs with a broad flat face and a profuse long soft coat

Illustration of Pekingese

Illustration of pekingese
  • Pekingese 2

Examples of Pekingese 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.
In previous years, a pretty ugly (and adorable, obviously) Pekingese took home the crown, and a Chinese Crested dog named Scooter claimed fame in 2023. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026 If the canary wouldn’t sing, if the milkman was late, if the Pekingese had fleas, if an old coot in a starched collar had a heart attack on the way to church, that was the smog. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 We Pekingese are reared on shark fins, curlew liver, and the breast of quail; for drink, the milk of antelopes that pasture in imperial parks. — Andrew Norman Wilson, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026 Pekingese had a rate of BOAS similar to bulldogs, with only 11 percent of pekingese dogs breathing freely. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Pekingese

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pekingese was in 1849

Browse Nearby Words

Peking duck
Pekingese
Peking man
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pekingese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pekingese. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Pekingese

noun
Pe·​king·​ese
variants or Pekinese
ˌpē-kən-ˈēz How to pronounce Pekingese (audio) -kiŋ- How to pronounce Pekingese (audio)
-ˈēs
plural Pekingese or Pekinese
1
a
: the Chinese dialect of Peking
b
: a person born or living in Peking
2
: any of a Chinese breed of small short-legged dogs with a broad flat face and a long soft coat

More from Merriam-Webster on Pekingese

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Pekingese

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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