paddock

noun

pad·​dock ˈpa-dək 

-dik

1

a

: a usually enclosed area used especially for pasturing or exercising animals

led the sheep into the paddock

especially : an enclosure where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race

b

Australia and New Zealand : an often enclosed field

2

: an area at an automobile racecourse where racing cars are parked

Examples of paddock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cherowbrier is a familiar face within the paddock, having figured in the championship’s technological evolution since 2019. —Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 6 Feb. 2026

With Haas, Doohan now has the chance to rebuild himself and remain on the radar within the F1 paddock. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Today, the paddock—maintained by the San Francisco Zoo and Recreation & Parks Department—houses a small herd of American bison, North America’s largest land mammals. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Likewise, here’s a video tour of the team’s incredible rolling paddock. —Jerry Perez, The Drive, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English parrok, from Old English pearroc, from Medieval Latin parricus

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for paddock

• haddock
• dyadic
• faradic
• monadic
• nomadic
• sporadic
• triadic

Kids Definition

paddock

noun

pad·​dock ˈpad-ək 

-ik

1

: an enclosed area where animals are put to eat grass or to exercise

2

: an enclosed area where racehorses are saddled and paraded before moving to the racetrack