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

There’s no other motorsport, and probably the equivalent with other sports, that would let fans come and wander around the paddock and mingle with riders. —Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 29 May 2026

Consequently, Audi and Honda are key to making this happen, according to veteran paddock journalist Jon Noble. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026

While the drivers get the glory and the engineers get the credit, there’s a quieter player in the paddock that’s had a front-row seat to both titles, and that’s Hilton. —Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

All three headlining drivers will meet fans around the Sonoma Raceway paddock during their respective days in attendance, according to the Velocity Invitational website. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 27 May 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