rodeo

noun ro·deo \ ˈrō-dē-ˌō , rə-ˈdā-(ˌ)ō \

|Updated on: 3 Aug 2018

Definition of rodeo

plural rodeos

1 : roundup

2 a : a public performance featuring bronco riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and Brahma bull riding

b : a contest resembling a rodeo

See rodeo defined for English-language learners

See rodeo defined for kids

Recent Examples of rodeo from the Web

The rodeo and Frontier Days have been part of the city's Independence Day weekend tradition since 1888.

— weldon b. johnson, azcentral, "Fourth of July in Arizona: Where you can go and where you can't," 27 June 2018
Each spring, Sandia National Laboratories hosts a robot rodeo in the desert in New Mexico.

— laura yan, Popular Mechanics, "Bomb Squads Practice Their Skills at This Robot Rodeo," 23 June 2018
The jockeys, meanwhile, work while riding 1,200-pound animals at 30 miles an hour, multiple times every day, in a chaotic rodeo of horseflesh, where one bad step or one poor decision can kill people.

— tim layden, SI.com, "Trainer Bob Baffert, Justify Jockey Mike Smith Relish a Remarkable Ride Before Belmont Stakes," 6 June 2018
Yass holds a rodeo and agricultural show every March and an arts-and-crafts festival every November, but neither event crowns a Yass Queen, which is truly regrettable.

— ken jennings, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Fab Five from 'Queer Eye' Have Taken Over Yass, Australia," 6 June 2018
There were six casinos, one rodeo arena, one Taco Shack, three car-parts stores, and the Busted Knuckle Brewery downtown.

— porter fox, Outside Online, "Exploring America's Forgotten Border," 1 June 2018
As the first model hit the catwalk, Jackson walked out on the show that ambitiously recreated a Mexican rodeo with all female riders performing daredevil stunts.

— Fox News, "Paris Jackson leaves fashion show after getting enraged over performing animals," 29 May 2018
General admission to the rodeo is $15; kids 5 and younger are free.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Community Crusaders pick up trash in Vista," 24 May 2018
Her father plans to be one of the Ramona Rodeo contestants and will then have hip surgery, which will keep him out of the rodeo arena indefinitely.

— joe naiman, Ramona Sentinel, "Madi Deskovick wins junior barrel race at Lakeside Rodeo," 2 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of rodeo

Spanish, from rodear to surround, from rueda wheel, from Latin rota — more at roll

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1819

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

rodeo

verb

Definition of rodeo

rodeoed; rodeoing; rodeos

intransitive verb

: to participate in a rodeo

Recent Examples of rodeo from the Web

His father, who rodeoed around Wisconsin in his spare time, raised cattle for dairy farms.

— roy bragg, San Antonio Express-News, "The non-Texan professional cowboy is a thing," 11 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of rodeo

1951

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

RODEO Defined for English Language Learners

rodeo

noun

Definition of rodeo for English Language Learners

: an event in which people compete at riding horses and bulls, catching animals with ropes, etc.

RODEO Defined for Kids

rodeo

noun ro·deo \ ˈrō-dē-ˌō , rə-ˈdā-ō \

Definition of rodeo for Students

plural rodeos

: an exhibition that features cowboy skills (as riding and roping)

Learn More about rodeo

See words that rhyme with rodeo Spanish Central: Translation of rodeo Nglish: Translation of rodeo for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rodeo

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rodeo

Definition of rodeo

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rodeo

Definition of rodeo

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RODEO Defined for English Language Learners

rodeo

Definition of rodeo for English Language Learners

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rodeo

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