pronghorn

noun

prong·​horn ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯrn 

ˈpräŋ-

variants or less commonly pronghorn antelope

plural pronghorn or pronghorns also pronghorn antelope or pronghorn antelopes

: a swift horned ruminant mammal (Antilocapra americana) chiefly of grasslands and deserts of western North America that has a slender lean build and horns that in males grow to 10-16 inches (25-41 cm) long and have an additional forward-facing prong and in females grow to 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) long and lack a prong

Note: Although the pronghorn is sometimes informally called the pronghorn antelope or less commonly the American antelope, it belongs to a different family than true antelope and is the only living species of its family (Antilocapridae).

Illustration of pronghorn

Examples of pronghorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mesquite trees for acacias, pronghorns for gazelles, meth heads for leopards. —Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Just like wolves, bison, pronghorns, prairie dogs, beavers, and monarch butterflies, these bears are on the list of epic species inhabiting North America — which means that any immigration- and tariff-related threats and decisions made by the region’s countries invariably affect them as well. —Ganesh Marín, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025

Lierz stayed at the truck and glassed the pronghorn while Zutterman stalked slowly and quietly to the animal. —Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 2 Oct. 2025

In fact, the 150-mile trek of large groups of pronghorns is one of the longest land migrations on the continent. —Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pronghorn

• adorn
• airborne
• blackthorn
• broomcorn
• buckhorn
• buckthorn
• careworn
• firstborn
• foodborne
• forborne
• forewarn
• forlorn

Kids Definition

pronghorn

noun

prong·​horn ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯ(ə)rn 

ˈpräŋ-

plural pronghorn or pronghorns

: a cud-chewing horned mammal of treeless parts of western North America resembling an antelope

called also pronghorn antelope