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

The image of Lionel Messi seen around the world Sunday was of the Argentine legend enjoying a tour of the F1 Miami Grand Prix with his family, visiting the paddock, meeting with Argentine driver Franco Colapinto and winner Kimi Antonelli, and sitting in the driver’s seat of a shiny race car. —Miami Herald, 6 May 2026

There’s a lot of politics behind the decisions on F1’s future, from the White House to the racing paddock. —James Ellingworth, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026

There's a lot of politics behind the decisions on F1's future, from the White House to the racing paddock. —ABC News, 4 May 2026

In the moments before the Kentucky Derby began, two incredible women – one stepping off the grandest stage in horse racing and another about to step onto it – strode together to Churchill Downs’ paddock. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 3 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