stag

noun

ˈstag 

plural stags

1

or plural stag : an adult male red deer

also : the male of various other deer (especially genus Cervus)

2

chiefly Scotland : a young horse

especially : a young unbroken stallion

3

: a male animal castrated after sexual maturity compare steer sense 1

4

: a young adult male domestic chicken or turkey

5

a

: a social gathering of men only

b

: one who attends a dance or party without a companion

Examples of stag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the 2022 work The Painter in His Bed, the artist depicts himself, perhaps wistfully, transformed into a stag. —News Desk, Artforum, 1 May 2026

Similarly, public agencies like the Port Authority of Kansas City stags hearings but have not needed voter permission to consider incentives for new apartment buildings and other projects. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026

Brownell also gives a special shout out to Baduza, who improvised the moment during the celebration where Michaela teaches everyone how to perform the stag dance. —Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026

The timing of the revelations, after the Ashes debacle and after the Noosa ‘stag do’, can only add weight to the impression that there is indeed a drinking culture within McCullum’s England that is damaging the team’s and the sport’s reputation. —Paul Newman, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stagge, from Old English stagga; akin to Old Norse andarsteggi drake

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stag

• go stag
• stag beetle
• stag night
• stag party

Rhymes for stag

• ag
• bag
• brag
• dag
• drag
• flag
• gag
• hag
• hagg
• lag
• mag
• nag

Kids Definition

stag

1 of 2 noun

ˈstag 

plural stags

1

or plural stag : an adult male deer especially of one of the larger kinds

2

a

: a social gathering of men only

b

: a man who attends a dance or party unaccompanied by a woman

stag

2 of 2 adjective

1

: intended for men only

a stag party

2

: unaccompanied by someone of the opposite sex

stag adverb