Search Dictionary
Definition of hot dog

hot dog

Plural:hot dogs
•
Past Simple:hot-dogged
•
Past Participle:hot-dogged
•
Present Participle:hot-dogging
JUMP TO:

• noun

1

North American A cooked sausage, typically a frankfurter or wiener, served whole in a long, sliced bun and often garnished with condiments such as mustard, ketchup, onions, or relish.

Example

"We grilled hot dogs and hamburgers in the backyard for the Fourth of July barbecue."


2

American A person who performs flashy, showy, or dangerous stunts to attract attention, especially in sports like surfing, skiing, or skateboarding.

Example

"He was known as the local hot dog, always trying to land dangerous aerial flips just to impress the crowd."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hot dog

• interjection

1

American An exclamation used to express excitement, delight, enthusiastic approval, or success.

Example

"Hot dog, we finally won the championship game!"

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hot dog
Antonyms
View all antonyms for hot dog

• verb

1

American To perform flashy, showy, or technically difficult athletic stunts to impress onlookers.

Example

"Instead of focusing on a steady descent, she kept hot-dogging all the way down the ski slope."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hot dog

Word Nuance & Usage

When used as a verb to describe showing off, it is frequently hyphenated ('hot-dog'), whereas the noun referring to the food remains unhyphenated.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hot dog. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hot-dog
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Dictionary & Reference
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.