pronghorn

noun

prong·​horn ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯrn How to pronounce pronghorn (audio)
ˈpräŋ-
plural pronghorn or pronghorns
: a swift horned ruminant mammal (Antilocapra americana) chiefly of grasslands and deserts of western North America that resembles an antelope

called also pronghorn antelope

Illustration of pronghorn

Illustration of pronghorn

Examples of pronghorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For six weeks in the coming winter of 1886, the hunters returned to their miserable dugout after forays into the adjacent badlands, coming back each night with one or two buffalo specimens, along with mule deer and pronghorn antelope. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 26 Oct. 2023 That’s meant pressing LS Power, for instance, to do more to limit potential harm to sage grouse and migrating pronghorn at Lava Ridge — a wind farm that Hayes doesn’t yet support but hopes to eventually. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2023 The headless body of an adult pronghorn buck was found along Big Chino Road, northwest of the town of Paulden, within Game Management Unit (GMU) 19B, which was closed for pronghorn hunting at that time. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 5 Sep. 2023 In the summer months, most of their prey is very strong and healthy, so wolves are primarily feeding on neonates—newborn elk and bison calves, and sometimes even pronghorn calves. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 23 Aug. 2023 Wolves in the West In Yellowstone National Park and around the West, wolves have access to ample wild ungulates like elk, deer, and pronghorn, Rabe says. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 23 Aug. 2023 There are and have always been predators that kill pronghorn fawns. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 15 July 2023 Park regulations require that visitors stay at least 25 yards away from large animals like bison, elk, deer, pronghorn, and horses. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 18 July 2023 By balancing the herd size with what the land can support, the agency aims to protect the habitat for other wildlife species including sage grouse, pronghorn antelope, mule deer and elk, said Gerald Dixon, the bureau’s Elko district manager. The Salt Lake Tribune, 21 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pronghorn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pronghorn was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near pronghorn

Cite this Entry

“Pronghorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pronghorn. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

pronghorn

noun
prong·​horn ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯ(ə)rn How to pronounce pronghorn (audio)
ˈpräŋ-
plural pronghorn or pronghorns
: a cud-chewing horned mammal of treeless parts of western North America resembling an antelope

called also pronghorn antelope

More from Merriam-Webster on pronghorn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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