wild oat
noun
1
: any of several Old World wild grasses (genus Avena)
especially
: a Eurasian annual weed (A. fatua) common in meadows and pastures
2
wild oats plural
: offenses and indiscretions ascribed to youthful exuberance
—usually used in the phrase sow one's wild oats
Examples of wild oat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Much of the green is from invasive weeds, including wild oats, thistle and mustard planted by ranchers who worked this land for more than 150 years.
—
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
The seeds of vegetables and the beard of a wild oat are presented with fanatical tenderness.
—Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024
Charming with a keen sense of duty, Anthony sows his wild oats before intending to find a wife in season 2.
—Charlotte Walsh, Peoplemag, 3 May 2023
There was a riot of nettles, ferns, ryegrass, scutch, goosefoot, wild oat, green amaranth, chicory, sorrel, cockspur, and the like, otherwise known as weeds by farmers throughout the world. . . .
—Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2022
He is shown in the Netflix’s series as encouraging his young protege to sow his wild oats and enjoy his liaison with Camilla – but not to marry her.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE.com, 14 Dec. 2019
Plant these natives to make an interesting meadow: purple three awn (Aristida purpurea), nodding needle grass (Stipa cernua), deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) and wild oat grass (Elymus condensatus)
15.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2019
Namely, Delilah wants the repressed, overly disciplined Stella to sow some wild oats.
—Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Aug. 2019
Teenagers need to test boundaries and sow a few wild oats; when that teenager is a witch, the stakes are a bit higher.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
The seeds of vegetables and the beard of a wild oat are presented with fanatical tenderness.
—Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024
Charming with a keen sense of duty, Anthony sows his wild oats before intending to find a wife in season 2.
—Charlotte Walsh, Peoplemag, 3 May 2023
There was a riot of nettles, ferns, ryegrass, scutch, goosefoot, wild oat, green amaranth, chicory, sorrel, cockspur, and the like, otherwise known as weeds by farmers throughout the world. . . .
—Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2022
He is shown in the Netflix’s series as encouraging his young protege to sow his wild oats and enjoy his liaison with Camilla – but not to marry her.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE.com, 14 Dec. 2019
Plant these natives to make an interesting meadow: purple three awn (Aristida purpurea), nodding needle grass (Stipa cernua), deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) and wild oat grass (Elymus condensatus)
15.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2019
Namely, Delilah wants the repressed, overly disciplined Stella to sow some wild oats.
—Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Aug. 2019
Teenagers need to test boundaries and sow a few wild oats; when that teenager is a witch, the stakes are a bit higher.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 18 Dec. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Wild oat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wild%20oat. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share