housebroken

[ hous-broh-kuhn ]

adjective

1. (of a pet) trained to avoid excreting inside the house or in improper places.

Word History and Origins

Origin of housebroken¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; house + broken

Example Sentences

“It helps with housebreaking, although the person who found her said she seemed housebroken.”

From Literature

Not to mention the fact that he isn’t housebroken, chews, bites like all puppies do, and we have a dog that goes absolutely insane around other dogs, getting very rough.

From Washington Post

One housebroken joey would watch television in their living room.

From Washington Post

I fully expect to read he’s been housebroken in recent weeks.

From The Guardian

Francis Bacon “is perfect for a house, but Franz Kline is not housebroken—too much energy.”

From The New Yorker

Related Words

• docile
• gentle
• harmless
• manageable
• mild
• subdued