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Definition of retriever

retriever

/ɹɪˈtɹiːvɚ/
re · triev · er
Plural:retrievers
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retriever Lexical Profile

retriever Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A dog of a breed originally used for finding and bringing back killed or wounded game, now commonly kept as a loyal and highly trainable family pet.

Example

"The family decided to adopt a golden retriever because of its gentle temperament and intelligence."

2

A person, animal, or device that finds and brings back something.

Example

"The robotic arm operates as an automated retriever for components stored deep within the high-density warehouse racks."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for retriever

• Rhymes for retriever

• Nearby Words

retama
reticulated python
retox
retriever
return
reverse
review

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb 'retrieve' (from Old French 'retreuver', meaning 'to find again') combined with the agent suffix '-er'. It came to prominently designate hunting dogs trained to recover game in the mid-19th century.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Retriever. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 21, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/retriever
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