cowboy

noun cow·boy \ ˈkau̇-ˌbȯi \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

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 as

a : a reckless driver

b : a business or businessperson operating in an uncontrolled or unregulated manner

See cowboy defined for English-language learners

See cowboy defined for kids

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

Gold Coast Gunslingers Saturday and Sunday, the target range offers a cowboy action match for ages 10 and up, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $15/person, plus $1.50 gate fee.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Plantation and Sunrise area events, May 9-19," 8 May 2018
Then there are old-fashioned marriages, like that of the Texas cowboy couple who have been hitched since 1964.

— peter keough, BostonGlobe.com, "Unconventional relationships are at the heart of ‘Partners’," 3 May 2018
Chesney's Miller Park and Lambeau Field openers have included heavy-hitters like Eric Church, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert, who provided a nice contrast to Chesney's Jimmy Buffett-in-a-cowboy-hat approach.

— piet levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Kenny Chesney, Thomas Rhett pack 'em in at Miller Park for 'Trip Around the Sun' tour stop," 28 Apr. 2018
How does an average human acquire the skills necessary to cowboy or -girl it up, much less fight with a katana?

— andrea valdez, WIRED, "Here's What Needs to Happen in Westworld's Second Season," 20 Apr. 2018
Andrew Scheer, the federal opposition leader, will need to court culturally anxious Quebeckers, assembly-line workers in Ontario and western cowboys alike—a feat that only Mr Harper has achieved so far.

— The Economist, "Anti-elitist politicians in Canada are courting immigrants," 19 Apr. 2018
Jason Aldean has had spectacular personal highs and lows in the past several months, but don’t expect his latest album, Rearview Town — due out Friday — to be this cowboy’s confessional.

— nancy kruh, PEOPLE.com, "Jason Aldean Dedicates New Album to Las Vegas Victims: 'You Guys Will Forever Be in My Heart'," 13 Apr. 2018
In the ballet, Copland weaves together a variety of musical influences including jazz, Romanticism, and authentic American cowboy songs to build a evocative score.

— jessica rudman, courant.com, "HSO's Celebration Of American Composers An Exciting Romp," 7 Apr. 2018
The Rider isn’t merely about cowboys or the West, but about manhood in America.

— john powers, Vogue, "How Chloé Zhao Reinvented the Western," 22 Mar. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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cowboy Synonyms

Synonyms

buckaroo (also buckeroo), cowhand, cowman, cowpoke, cowpuncher, wrangler;

Related Words

cowgirl;

caballero [chiefly Southwest], gaucho, vaquero;

horseman, horsewoman;

cattleman, rancher, stockman;

cowherd, drover, herder, herdsman;

cowboy

verb

Definition of cowboy

intransitive verb

: to work as a cowboy

cowboyed in Texas and Oklahoma

See cowboy defined for English-language learners

Examples of cowboy in a Sentence

He cowboyed in Texas and Oklahoma.

Recent Examples of cowboy from the Web

Sam Hunt cowboys up Sam Hunt brought the party with him Friday night.

— cindy watts and adam tamburin, USA TODAY, "Friday at CMA Music Festival: Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini," 10 June 2017
Sam Hunt cowboys up Sam Hunt brought the party with him Friday night.

— cindy watts and adam tamburin, USA TODAY, "Friday at CMA Music Festival: Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini," 10 June 2017

First Known Use of cowboy

1925

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

COWBOY Defined for English Language Learners

cowboy

noun

Definition of cowboy for English Language Learners

: a man who rides a horse and whose job is to take care of cows or horses especially in the western U.S.
: a man who performs in a rodeo
: 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

verb

Definition of cowboy for English Language Learners

: to work as a cowboy

COWBOY Defined for Kids

cowboy

noun cow·boy \ ˈkau̇-ˌbȯi \

Definition of cowboy for Students

: a man or boy who works on a ranch or performs at a rodeo

Learn More about cowboy

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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cowboy

Definition of cowboy

Examples of cowboy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cowboy from the Web

Did You Know?

First Known Use of cowboy

cowboy Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

cowboy

Definition of cowboy

Examples of cowboy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cowboy from the Web

First Known Use of cowboy

COWBOY Defined for English Language Learners

cowboy

Definition of cowboy for English Language Learners

cowboy

Definition of cowboy for English Language Learners

COWBOY Defined for Kids

cowboy

Definition of cowboy for Students

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