pony

noun

po·​ny ˈpō-nē 

plural ponies

1

a

: a small horse

especially : one of any of several breeds of very small stocky animals noted for their gentleness and endurance

b

: a bronco, mustang, or similar horse of the western U.S.

c

: racehorse

—usually used in plural

2

: something smaller than standard: such as

a

: a small beer glass

b

: a small liqueur glass typically holding one ounce

3

: a literal translation of a foreign language text

especially : one used surreptitiously by students in preparing or reciting lessons

Examples of pony in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The speakeasy is open only Friday and Saturday. 🤘Bates Nut Farm has a mechanical bull, pony rides and rock climbing, plus live music and rotating food vendors on weekends. —Kate Murphy, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024

Their Hickory Hill estate in McLean, Va. was a rotating roster of secretaries of state, film stars and celebrities along with snakes, ponies, horses, hamsters, homing pigeons, ducks, geese, cockatoos and a huge turtle. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 10 Oct. 2024

The inline-six — now enlarged to 2.8 liters — was still kicking around, but the first true S-Class also saw more widespread use of V-8s, which started at 3.5 liters and 197 hp but quickly grew to 4.5 liters and 222 ponies. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2024

Visit farm animals such as goats, alpacas, chickens and ponies. —Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 29 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from obsolete French poulenet, diminutive of French poulain colt, from Old French pulain, perhaps from Medieval Latin pullamen young animal, from Latin pullus — more at foal

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pony

• cow pony
• dog and pony show
• one-trick pony
• pony express
• pony up
• Shetland pony
• Welsh mountain pony
• Welsh pony

Kids Definition

pony

noun

po·​ny ˈpō-nē 

plural ponies

1

: a small horse

especially : a horse of any of several breeds of very small compact animals

2

: a word-for-word translation of a foreign language text