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 an interactive, educational area so visitors can learn about the horses as well as see them in paddocks. —Eve Chen, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026

Among his who’s who of outstanding horses, Bill Mott trained Cigar, the great thoroughbred whose statue overlooks the paddock walking ring at Gulfstream Park. —Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

While there is some credence to the rumor about Wheatley’s move, given their past, the same would apply to most high-value personnel in the F1 paddock. —Jerry Perez, The Drive, 19 Mar. 2026

The neighborhood/area The Kruununhaka district was once the ‘crown’s paddocks’, although as the city has grown, it’s been absorbed into the downtown area. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 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