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: a young animal of the horse family
especially
: one under one year
foaled; foaling; foals
: to give birth to a foal
: to give birth to (a foal)
Example Sentences
Verb
The mare will foal in June.
Recent Examples on the Web
Longreads, 2 Nov. 2022
This is true to some extent for all mammals, but obviously there's still a difference between a newborn foal and a newborn human.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2011
Teena Ella, the third foal of champion Beholder, faded to sixth in the seven-horse field.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Nov. 2022
The first foal to come ashore — a black-and-white male this year — is not sold with the others.
—The Virginian-pilot, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022
Centuries later, two children on the island - based on a real family - save up to buy a pony and its foal, Misty.
—Dave Kindy, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Aug. 2022
Guests can see Poppy and the new foal in the zoo’s African Savanna exhibit.
—Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Aug. 2022
Then the foal that results from the breeding is nominated in their first year for $400, which is good for the rest of their career.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022
Ortiz received the right to pair Mo Donegal with a mare until realizing a viable foal, or sell that right.
—Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2022
Joe Drape, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2019
My guess is that one person — of a higher authority — knows exactly how many thoroughbreds have been foaled over the past 100 years.
—Nick Canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, 9 June 2018
Stymie was foaled on King Ranch in Texas on April 9th, 1941.
—Max Watman, WSJ, 25 May 2018
Good day: Jumping out of bed at 2 a.m. to help deliver a baby horse during foaling season.
—Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com, 22 May 2018
The striking chestnut colt was foaled in Kentucky on March 28, 2015.
—Paul Rolfes, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2018
My guess is that one person — of a higher authority — knows exactly how many thoroughbreds have been foaled over the past 100 years.
—Nick Canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, 9 June 2018
Stymie was foaled on King Ranch in Texas on April 9th, 1941.
—Max Watman, WSJ, 25 May 2018
Good day: Jumping out of bed at 2 a.m. to help deliver a baby horse during foaling season.
—Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com, 22 May 2018
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Noun
For years now, the people of Cedar Island, North Carolina, have named each foal born to the local herd of mustangs after the oldest living resident who hasn’t already had a horse named for them.
—Longreads, 2 Nov. 2022
This is true to some extent for all mammals, but obviously there's still a difference between a newborn foal and a newborn human.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2011
Teena Ella, the third foal of champion Beholder, faded to sixth in the seven-horse field.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Nov. 2022
The first foal to come ashore — a black-and-white male this year — is not sold with the others.
—The Virginian-pilot, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022
Centuries later, two children on the island - based on a real family - save up to buy a pony and its foal, Misty.
—Dave Kindy, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Aug. 2022
Guests can see Poppy and the new foal in the zoo’s African Savanna exhibit.
—Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Aug. 2022
Then the foal that results from the breeding is nominated in their first year for $400, which is good for the rest of their career.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022
Ortiz received the right to pair Mo Donegal with a mare until realizing a viable foal, or sell that right.
—Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2022
Verb
In 1990, more than 44,000 racehorses were foaled in North America, according to the Jockey Club, which keeps the thoroughbred registry.
—Joe Drape, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2019
My guess is that one person — of a higher authority — knows exactly how many thoroughbreds have been foaled over the past 100 years.
—Nick Canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, 9 June 2018
Stymie was foaled on King Ranch in Texas on April 9th, 1941.
—Max Watman, WSJ, 25 May 2018
Good day: Jumping out of bed at 2 a.m. to help deliver a baby horse during foaling season.
—Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com, 22 May 2018
The striking chestnut colt was foaled in Kentucky on March 28, 2015.
—Paul Rolfes, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2018
My guess is that one person — of a higher authority — knows exactly how many thoroughbreds have been foaled over the past 100 years.
—Nick Canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, 9 June 2018
Stymie was foaled on King Ranch in Texas on April 9th, 1941.
—Max Watman, WSJ, 25 May 2018
Good day: Jumping out of bed at 2 a.m. to help deliver a baby horse during foaling season.
—Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com, 22 May 2018
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'foal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English fole, from Old English fola; akin to Latin pullus young of an animal, Greek pais child — more at few
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of foal was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing foal
Dictionary Entries Near foal
Cite this Entry
“Foal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foal. Accessed 27 Jan. 2023.
Kids Definition
foal
1 of 2 noun
: a young animal of the horse family
especially
: one under one year
foal
2 of 2 verb
: to give birth to a foal
Medical Definition
foal
1 of 2 noun
: the young of an animal of the horse family
especially
: one less than one year old
foal
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to give birth to a foal
More from Merriam-Webster on foal
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for foal
Nglish: Translation of foal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of foal for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foal
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