filly

noun

fil·​ly ˈfi-lē How to pronounce filly (audio)
plural fillies
Synonyms of fillynext
1
: a young female horse usually of less than four years
2
: a young woman : girl

Examples of filly in a Sentence

she's still a filly, so she has plenty of time to decide what she wants to do in life
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Kentucky Oaks, a slightly shorter race exclusively for fillies on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, will air in primetime this year in an attempt to draw more viewers. Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 8 Apr. 2026 Baffert said the filly appeared OK but would undergo diagnostic tests to be sure. Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026 In addition, neither Andrea's Pride (the filly's dam) or Happy Anniversary won in 23 combined starts. Bob Wisener, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2026 Thurby, a celebration of Kentucky’s heritage featuring live entertainment; and the Kentucky Oaks, a race for 3-year-old fillies (female horses). Chase Jordan february 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for filly

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fyly, from Old Norse fylja; akin to Old English fola foal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of filly was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Filly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filly. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

filly

noun
fil·​ly ˈfil-ē How to pronounce filly (audio)
plural fillies
: a young female horse usually less than four years old

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