paddock

noun

pad·​dock ˈpa-dək 

-dik

1

a

: a usually enclosed area used especially for pasturing or exercising animals

led the sheep into the paddock

especially : an enclosure where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race

b

Australia and New Zealand : an often enclosed field

2

: an area at an automobile racecourse where racing cars are parked

Examples of paddock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At this, the paddock gasps in unison. —Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026

The sisters were spotted walking in the paddock during qualifying ahead of the race, in which the Skims founder’s boyfriend Lewis Hamilton is competing. —Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 8 June 2026

Actresses Olivia Wilde and Cynthia Erivo, as well as athletes Lindsey Vonn and Olivier Giroud, were photographed in the paddocks as the start approached. —Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 7 June 2026

The paddock that no one had dared to demolish. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English parrok, from Old English pearroc, from Medieval Latin parricus

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for paddock

• haddock
• dyadic
• faradic
• monadic
• nomadic
• sporadic
• triadic

Kids Definition

paddock

noun

pad·​dock ˈpad-ək 

-ik

1

: an enclosed area where animals are put to eat grass or to exercise

2

: an enclosed area where racehorses are saddled and paraded before moving to the racetrack