housebroken

1 of 2

adjective

house·​bro·​ken ˈhau̇s-ˌbrō-kən How to pronounce housebroken (audio)
Synonyms of housebrokennext
1
: trained to excretory habits acceptable in indoor living
—used of a household pet
2
: made tractable or polite

housebroken

2 of 2

past participle of housebreak

Examples of housebroken 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.
Adjective
One housebroken joey would watch television in their living room. — Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2021 Sherman, discarded by the Seahawks, arrives with bad-puppy baggage — old, banged-up, a rep for being not quite housebroken. — Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of housebroken was in 1885

Rhymes for housebroken

See All Rhymes for housebroken

Browse Nearby Words

housebreaking
housebroken
housebuilder
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Cite this Entry

“Housebroken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/housebroken. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

housebroken

adjective
house·​bro·​ken -ˌbrō-kən How to pronounce housebroken (audio)
: trained in habits of eliminating bodily waste that are acceptable in indoor living
a housebroken dog

Medical Definition

housebroken

adjective
house·​bro·​ken -ˌbrō-kən How to pronounce housebroken (audio)
: trained to excretory habits acceptable in indoor living
—used of a household pet

More from Merriam-Webster on housebroken

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for housebroken

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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