steeplechase

noun

stee·​ple·​chase ˈstē-pəl-ˌchās 

1

a

: a horse race across country

b

: a horse race over a closed course with obstacles (such as hedges and walls)

2

: a footrace of usually 3000 meters over hurdles and a water jump

steeplechaser

ˈstē-pəl-ˌchā-sər 

noun

steeplechasing

ˈstē-pəl-ˌchā-siŋ 

noun

Examples of steeplechase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So begins a grand steeplechase that becomes the story of both The Secret Commonwealth and The Rose Field, which are so intertwined that they could plausibly have been published together as a single novel. —Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025

Crossing the finish line in 10th and 11th is not how either Tim Van de Velde or Carlos San Martín would have been picturing the men’s 3,000m steeplechase qualifier on Saturday. —Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025

The two Bahraini athletics medallists in Paris, Winfred Yavi (3,000m steeplechase gold) and Salwa Eid Naser (400m silver), come from Kenya and Nigeria. —Liam Tharme, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

Visit the site on the first weekend in November to attend the Montpelier Hunt Races, a steeplechase horse race that's taken place here for almost 90 years. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from the use of church steeples as landmarks to guide the riders

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for steeplechase

• aerospace
• anatase
• anyplace
• commonplace
• cyberspace
• database
• diabase
• diastase
• dnase
• elastase
• fireplace
• hyperspace

Kids Definition

steeplechase

noun

stee·​ple·​chase ˈstē-pəl-ˌchās 

1

a

: a race over the countryside on horses

b

: a horse race on a special course with obstacles (as hedges and walls)

2

: a footrace of usually 3,000 meters over hurdles and a water jump

steeplechaser

-ˌchā-sər 

noun

Etymology

so called from the fact that originally the races were across the countryside in a direct line toward a distant church steeple sighted rising above the other buildings