mare

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈmer 

: a female horse or other equine animal especially when fully mature or of breeding age

mare

2 of 3

noun (2)

ma·​re ˈmär-(ˌ)ā 

plural maria ˈmär-ē-ə  also mares ˈmär-(ˌ)āz 

: any of several mostly flat dark areas of considerable extent on the surface of the moon or Mars

mare

3 of 3

noun (3)

obsolete

: an evil preternatural being causing nightmares

Examples of mare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Wohlfeil’s decision noted that between the 2024 and 2025 rodeos, the rodeo management team adjusted the rules to not permit the use of electric prods — which had drawn criticism — and also to bar the use of mares known to be pregnant. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026

The 6-year-old allowance-level mare Angelic Appeal was euthanized after being injured in a race on the Santa Anita turf course on Saturday, and the maiden 4-year-old colt Cornhuskerchris was euthanized after being injured in training on the Santa Anita training track on Sunday. —Kevin Modesti, Oc Register, 26 Jan. 2026

Jean got up during the night to check on the mares that were ready to give birth. —Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026

The equestrian side of the ranch includes a show barn with an upstairs apartment, an eight-stall mare motel, multiple turnout pens and an insulated indoor arena designed for year-round training and events. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English mere; akin to Old High German merha mare, Old English mearh horse, Welsh march

Noun (2)

New Latin, from Latin, sea — more at marine

Noun (3)

Middle English, going back to Old English, going back to Germanic *marō(n)-, feminine, or *mara(n)-, masculine (whence also Old Saxon, Old High German & Old Icelandic mara "nightmare, demon causing nightmares"), going back to dialectal Indo-European *mor(h₂)-, denoting a nocturnal malevolent spirit, whence also Old Irish Morrígan, name of an ancient Irish war goddess (compound with rígan "queen"), Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian mòra "nightmare, blood-sucking witch," Polish zmora "nightmare, incubus," Russian kikímora "household spirit" (with initial element of uncertain origin)

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1860, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mare

• flying mare
• mare clausum
• mare liberum
• mare nostrum
• mare's nest
• mare's tail
• shank's mare

Rhymes for mare

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

mare

1 of 2 noun

ˈma(ə)r, 

ˈme(ə)r

: an adult female of the horse or a related animal (as a zebra or donkey)

mare

2 of 2 noun

ma·​re

ˈmär-ā

plural maria

ˈmär-ē-ə

: any of several large dark areas on the surface of the moon or Mars

Etymology

Noun

Old English mere "a mature female horse"

Noun

scientific Latin, from Latin mare "sea"