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K-9 unit

(US) A police dog or a police dog and its handler.

159 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 27, 2026Global

(US) A police dog or a police dog and its handler.

Origin: Humorous homophone of canine from an old vaudeville show. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

K-9 unit means: A police dog or a police dog and its handler.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

K-9 unit means: A police dog or a police dog and its handler.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

Cluster: authority_figure
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For specific readers

K-9 unit means: A police dog or a police dog and its handler.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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