Dalmatian

1 of 2

noun

Dal·​ma·​tian dal-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce Dalmatian (audio)
plural Dalmatians
1
or less commonly dalmatian : any of a breed of medium-sized dogs having a white short-haired coat with many black or brown spots
2
: a native or inhabitant of Dalmatia
3
: a Romance language developed from colloquial Latin and extinct by the late 19th century that was spoken on the Dalmatian coast and Adriatic islands

Illustration of Dalmatian

Illustration of dalmatian
  • dalmatian 1

Dalmatian

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to Dalmatia (a region of the western Balkan Peninsula on the Adriatic Sea) or its people

Examples of Dalmatian in a Sentence

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Adjective
Remnants of the original history still abound, though, from the Dalmatian statues at the front entrance (a nod to the Bissell family dogs) to photos of the property over the years in some of the common spaces. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026 The interiors lean breezy and beige—more Greek island than typical Dalmatian stone—with white walls and light cream tones. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 17 Aug. 2026 His name is Chief, and he’s considered the first Dalmatian bat dog in history. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Little Shadows serves as the production company in association with Hello Moon, Ford Films, This is Swington, Dalmatian Cow, and Baked Studios. — Brent Lang, Variety, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for Dalmatian

Word History

Etymology

Noun

(sense 1) from the supposed origin of the breed in Dalmatia

First Known Use

Noun

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Dalmatian was in 1581

Rhymes for Dalmatian

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Browse Nearby Words

Dalmatia
Dalmatian
Dalmatian cherry
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Cite this Entry

“Dalmatian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dalmatian. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dalmatian

noun
dal·​ma·​tian dal-ˈmā-shən How to pronounce dalmatian (audio)
often capitalized
: any of a breed of dogs that have a white short-haired coat with many black or brown spots
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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