pronghorn

noun prong·horn \ ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯrn , ˈpräŋ- \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of pronghorn

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

See pronghorn defined for English-language learners

See pronghorn defined for kids

Recent Examples of pronghorn from the Web

Big Sky Country averages seven people, one pronghorn antelope, one elk, and three deer per square mile.

— porter fox, Outside Online, "Exploring America's Forgotten Border," 1 June 2018
Removing the juniper not only benefits sage grouse, but also mule deer, elk, pronghorn and golden eagles.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "Farewell, western juniper. Idaho, feds partner to yank the plant & let sagebrush return," 31 May 2018
Human activities disturb pronghorn Trump's border wall would still harm the Sonoran pronghorn, said Dan Millis of the Sierra Club.

— alex devoid, azcentral, "Back from the brink, the Sonoran pronghorn now roam an increasingly political landscape," 27 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, since the national monument abuts the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, bighorn sheep and elk have returned to the area, and the populations of mule deer and pronghorn antelope have rebounded.

— USA TODAY, "Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan warn: Beautiful, unspoiled landscapes are disappearing," 25 May 2018
The only restriction on firearms for use in hunting deer, alligators, pronghorn and bighorn sheep is that rimfire ammunition is prohibited; any centerfire rifle or shotgun is legal and there is no minimum caliber or shot size mandated.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "TPW Commission reconsidering its approval of air-powered guns, bows," 6 May 2018
The pronghorn survived bad droughts in the past, but in 2002, the species was on the brink of extinction in southern Arizona.

— azcentral, "AZ Memo: Tempe motorcycle officers now carry AR-15s; what it costs to graduate in AZ; inside look at a 'D' rated school," 28 Mar. 2018
Most immediate is the prospect of 3,500 new gas wells planned on federal land at the southern end of the pronghorn’s migratory path.

— jim robbins, New York Times, "Animals Are Losing Their Vagility, or Ability to Roam Freely," 19 Feb. 2018
Riis spent about a decade tracking, in photos, the migrations of elk, mule deer and pronghorn across the Yellowstone region.

— jennifer billock, Smithsonian, "Photos Document Dramatic Wildlife Migrations Across Yellowstone," 25 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pronghorn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of pronghorn

First Known Use of pronghorn

1823

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

PRONGHORN Defined for English Language Learners

pronghorn

noun

Definition of pronghorn for English Language Learners

: a large animal of western North America that looks like an antelope

PRONGHORN Defined for Kids

pronghorn

noun prong·horn \ ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯrn \

Definition of pronghorn for Students

: an animal that resembles an antelope and lives mostly in the grasslands and deserts of western North America

Learn More about pronghorn

See words that rhyme with pronghorn Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pronghorn

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pronghorn? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

pronghorn

Definition of pronghorn

Recent Examples of pronghorn from the Web

Illustration of pronghorn

First Known Use of pronghorn

PRONGHORN Defined for English Language Learners

pronghorn

Definition of pronghorn for English Language Learners

PRONGHORN Defined for Kids

pronghorn

Definition of pronghorn for Students

Learn More about pronghorn

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

amortize

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

What It Means to Go ‘Radio Silent’

The Last Word on 'Finalize'

'Creep': A Skin-Crawling History

Centuries and How to Refer to Them

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Words for Summer: A Quiz

Name More Food!

True or False?

Word Winder's CrossWinder

What It Means to Go ‘Radio Silent’

Words for Summer: A Quiz

If the Shoe Fits

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Ghost Word

pronghorn

Definition of pronghorn

Recent Examples of pronghorn from the Web

Illustration of pronghorn

First Known Use of pronghorn

PRONGHORN Defined for English Language Learners

pronghorn

Definition of pronghorn for English Language Learners

PRONGHORN Defined for Kids

pronghorn

Definition of pronghorn for Students

Learn More about pronghorn

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

What It Means to Go ‘Radio Silent’

Words for Summer: A Quiz

If the Shoe Fits

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Ghost Word