Definition of cowboy
1 : one who tends cattle or horses; especially : a usually mounted cattle-ranch hand
2 : a rodeo performer
3 : one having qualities (such as recklessness, aggressiveness, or independence) popularly associated with cowboys: such asa : a reckless driverb : a business or businessperson operating in an uncontrolled or unregulated manner
From the M-W Editors
Examples of cowboy in a Sentence
a movie about cowboys in the old West
He worked for several years as a cowboy on a ranch in Texas.
We've got a bunch of risk-taking cowboys running this project.
Recent Examples of cowboy from the Web
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A cowboy suit, a wind-up train on a track, roller skates, and every teen’s favorite: Chuck Taylor All-Stars and a satin blue and gold warm-up jacket, the Home school’s colors.
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The president took his time checking out products from all over the country: Trump donned a cowboy hat from Texas.
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Paula Cole may still not know where all the cowboys have gone, to invoke the title of her 1997 breakthrough hit.
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Worship has been tailored for cowboys (country music and sawdust on the floor) and bikers (dress code: leather), said the Rev. Karl Vaters, who writes a blog on innovative leadership in small churches for Christianity Today magazine.
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Some of the friends hung out regularly with a group of male cowboys.
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The life of a cowboy is one of social magnetism and social restraint.
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The beloved Pixar film about a toy cowboy named Woody, his boy Andy, and Andy's new astronaut toy Buzz Lightyear is over 20 years old but its story endures even now.
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Bryan coaches Kenny on his two-on-one while Lee polishes his cowboy boots because this show has the subtlety of a fart.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cowboy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
In the American West, a horseman skilled at handling cattle is called a cowboy. From ca.1820, cowboys were employed in small numbers on Texas ranches. After the Civil War, their numbers rapidly multiplied as cattle-raising evolved into a lucrative industry throughout the western territories. Cowboys rounded up and branded the cattle, kept watch over the herd, and drove those ready for market to railroad towns. As the agricultural frontier moved west, the open range was transformed into farms, and by 1890 cowboys had been forced to settle on ranches. The romance of their image lives on in American folklore and through movies and television.
First Known Use of cowboy
1623
cowboy
Definition of cowboy
intransitive verb
: to work as a cowboy cowboyed in Texas and Oklahoma
Examples of cowboy in a Sentence
He cowboyed in Texas and Oklahoma.
Recent Examples of cowboy from the Web
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Sam Hunt cowboys up Sam Hunt brought the party with him Friday night.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cowboy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of cowboy
1925
COWBOY Defined for English Language Learners
cowboy
playDefinition of cowboy for English Language Learners
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: a man who rides a horse and whose job is to take care of cows or horses especially in the western U.S.
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: a man who performs in a rodeo
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: someone who has qualities that are commonly associated with the cowboys in movies; especially : someone who does things that other people consider foolish and dangerous
cowboy
Definition of cowboy for English Language Learners
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: to work as a cowboy
COWBOY Defined for Kids
cowboy
playDefinition of cowboy for Students
: a man or boy who works on a ranch or performs at a rodeo
Learn More about cowboy
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See words that rhyme with cowboy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cowboy Spanish Central: Translation of cowboy Nglish: Translation of cowboy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cowboy for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cowboy
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