saddle

1 of 2

noun

sad·​dle ˈsa-dᵊl 

often attributive

1

a(1)

: a girthed usually padded and leather-covered seat for the rider of an animal (such as a horse)

(2)

: a part of a driving harness comparable to a saddle that is used to keep the breeching in place

b

: a seat to be straddled by the rider of a vehicle (such as a bicycle)

2

: a device mounted as a support and often shaped to fit the object held

3

a

: a ridge connecting two higher elevations

b

: a pass in a mountain range

4

a

: both sides of the unsplit back of a carcass including both loins

b

: a colored marking on the back of an animal

c

: the rear part of a male fowl's back extending to the tail see duck illustration

5

: the central part of the spine of the binding of a book

6

: a piece of leather across the instep of a shoe

saddleless

ˈsa-dᵊl-(l)əs 

adjective

see also:

in the saddle

Illustration of saddle

• 1 western
• 2 English

saddle

2 of 2

verb

saddled; saddling ˈsa-dᵊl-iŋ 

ˈsad-liŋ

transitive verb

1

: to put a saddle on

2

a

: to place under a burden or encumbrance

b

: to place (an onerous responsibility) on a person or group

intransitive verb

: to mount a saddled horse

Synonyms of saddle

Noun

• canyon
• ravine
• gorge
• valley

Verb

• load
• burden
• fill
• pack
• weight

Examples of saddle in a Sentence

Noun

the next day's hike was a stiff climb out of the saddle where they had camped for the night

Verb

He saddled his horse and mounted it.

to the social worker it seemed as though her supervisor had once again saddled her with a truly hopeless case

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The law defines rodeos as spectator events that include bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, or any other event or activity that involves physically taking down an animal, roping an animal, or attempting to ride a bucking animal. —Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Kayce Dutton is already back in the saddle. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2026

Verb

In seeking to increase the number of students from certain racial groups, the current UC admissions policy is setting up unprepared students to fail, oftentimes while saddling them with many thousands of dollars in student loan debt. —Adam B. Summers, Oc Register, 11 June 2026

The process saddles the building with a randomness that makes for an odd fit with the nation’s ultrarational CEO, and the result is no less opaque or imposing. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sadel, from Old English sadol; akin to Old High German satul saddle

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing saddle

• a burr in/under the saddle
• English saddle
• in the saddle
• saddle blanket
• saddle horn
• saddle horse
• saddle leather
• saddle seat
• saddle shoe
• saddle soap
• saddle sore
• saddle up
• saddle with
• stock saddle
• western saddle

Rhymes for saddle

• paddle
• straddle

Kids Definition

saddle

1 of 2 noun

sad·​dle ˈsad-ᵊl 

1

a

: a padded and leather-covered seat for a horseback rider

b

: a padded part of a harness

c

: a bicycle or motorcycle seat

2

: something like a saddle in shape, position, or use

especially : a support for an object

saddle

2 of 2 verb

saddled; saddling ˈsad-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to put a saddle on

2

: encumber sense 1, burden

Medical Definition

saddle

noun

sad·​dle ˈsad-ᵊl 

: the part of a partial denture that carries an artificial tooth and has connectors for adjacent teeth attached to its ends