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

One of the athletes, former women's steeplechase world champion Milcah Chemos, struggled to speak while breaking down in tears. —TIME, 12 Feb. 2024

Margaret Howard Worrall, who was born the day of the 1942 Maryland Hunt Cup and became the first woman to head the annual steeplechase event, died of heart failure Dec. 20 at her Monkton home. —Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2024

Her husband’s wedding gift to her was a steeplechase horse named Scandanus. —Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2024

Colleen Quigley, an Olympic steeplechase runner, experienced several foot injuries that interrupted her training cycles, putting her livelihood at risk. —Kells McPhillips, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2023

On the national and international stage, a former Alaska prep star joined an elite group of athletes to reach a rare milestone, a rugby star is up for a prestigious award and a steeplechase runner from Southeast competed in China. —Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Sep. 2023

Oregon State’s Kaylee Mitchell won her heat of the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday night, moving into Saturday’s final along with Beavers teammate Grace Fetherstonhaugh. —oregonlive, 9 June 2023

Meanwhile, Oregon State’s Kaylee Mitchell and Grace Fetherstonhaugh will look to advance to the final in the women’s steeplechase. —oregonlive, 8 June 2023

Writ large on a giant screen, the results were shown on a chart marked by red and green highlights, as though the researchers were reporting on a steeplechase with three types of hurdles. —Elizabeth Finkel, Quanta Magazine, 24 Aug. 2023

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

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