horseshoe

noun

horse·​shoe ˈhȯrs-ˌshü 

ˈhȯrsh-

1

: a usually U-shaped band of iron fitted and nailed to the rim of a horse's hoof to protect it

2

: something (such as a valley) shaped like a horseshoe

3

horseshoes plural : a game like quoits played with horseshoes or with horseshoe-shaped pieces of metal

horseshoe transitive verb

horseshoer

ˈhȯrs-ˌshü-ər 

ˈhȯrsh-

noun

Examples of horseshoe in a Sentence

The lake was a horseshoe surrounded by tall pine trees.

Recent Examples on the Web

The sports complex at 31230 Castaic Road covers more than 50 acres and includes amenities such as baseball diamonds, basketball courts, a gym, aquatics center, football/soccer fields, meeting rooms, a skate park, walking paths, picnic areas and horseshoe pits. —City News Service, Daily News, 17 Jan. 2026

The horseshoe silhouette adds volume and shape to an outfit while still being easy to work with. —Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026

Today’s horseshoes still have the exact same broad body plan, the same curved shell and the same long spike-like tail. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026

But he is best explained by horseshoe theory, which suggests that political ideology is a horseshoe, not a line, where extreme views on the right and left get very close to each other at the ends. —Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 21 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing horseshoe

• horseshoe arch
• horseshoe crab

Rhymes for horseshoe

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

horseshoe

noun

horse·​shoe ˈhȯrs-ˌshü 

ˈhȯrsh-

1

: a usually U-shaped band of iron shaped and nailed to the rim of a horse's hoof

2

: something shaped like a horseshoe

3

plural : a game in which horseshoes are tossed at a stake in the ground

horseshoe verb

horseshoer noun