Meaning & use
GSD
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A large working dog bred in Germany, often used by police and as a guide dog.
Grammar: Countable and usually written in capitals; the plural is GSDs.
Patterns
- a GSD
- GSDs
The officer's GSD stayed calm while the crowd moved past.
She adopted a GSD from a rescue center last spring.
GSDs are known for their loyalty and strong protective instinct.
Word forms
| plural | GSDs |
|---|
Common combinations
- a trained GSD
- A trained GSD can follow hand signals from a distance.
- a police GSD
- The police GSD searched the building for evidence.
- GSD puppy
- Their GSD puppy grows out of its collar every few weeks.
Synonyms and how they differ
- German shepherd
- The full name is more common in everyday speech; GSD is mainly used by breeders, trainers, and enthusiasts.
- Alsatian
- An older British name for the same breed; it now sounds old-fashioned to many people.
Commonly confused: GSD or GSA?
GSD vs GSA
GSA is a different initialism, often meaning 'Gay-Straight Alliance' or 'General Services Administration', so the final letter matters.
Practice
Which sentence uses GSD correctly?
Choose one answer.
GSD is a singular countable noun, so it takes 'is' and 'a'. The plural GSDs would need 'are', as in 'GSDs are large working dogs'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “GSD”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.