lapdog

American  

[lap-dawg, dog] / ˈlæpˌdɔg, ˌdɒg /

Or lap dog

noun

1. a small pet dog that can easily be held in the lap.

2. a person or group that submits to the influence of another; a servile follower.

   Regulatory agencies are supposed to be watchdogs, but some have become lapdogs of the industries they oversee.

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lapdog British  

/ ˈlæpˌdɒɡ /

noun

1. a pet dog small and docile enough to be cuddled in the lap

2. informal a person who attaches himself to someone in admiration or infatuation

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Etymology

Origin of lapdog

First recorded in 1635–45; lap ¹ + dog ( def. )

Example Sentences

He's not a lapdog that comes running every time they whistle.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

Woike: The portrayal of Blake Griffin seems way off to me — someone who I never viewed as a selfish teammate or as a Sterling lapdog.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2024

One writer, whom Rhodes declined to identify, argued that a well-behaved lapdog would be less distracting than an animal whining from the backseat.

From Washington Times • Jan. 20, 2023

Holding her lapdog Daisy to her chest, Trotsak looked around at the quiet street with wonder.

From Reuters • May 4, 2022

But for years, even the sight of a lapdog in a lady’s arms made me quiver with fear.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein