yearling

noun

year·​ling ˈyir-liŋ 

ˈyər-lən

: one that is a year old: such as

a

: an animal one year old or in the second year of its age

b

: a racehorse between January 1 of the year after the year in which it was foaled and the next January 1

yearling adjective

Examples of yearling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This summer, a grizzly cub in Grand Teton National Park gained international fame after an adult male bear killed the yearling’s two siblings. —Molly Absolon, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025

At the two-week auction, which ended Sept. 20, 56 yearlings sold for at least $1 million, breaking a record 40 in 2005, and 120 buyers spent at least $1 million, up from 96 in 2024. —Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025

Brant, the $3 million 2-year-old whose maiden victory in July produced a 101 Beyer speed figure, the best by a horse his age in 2025; Balboa, third to Brant in that maiden race; Desert Gate, 2 for 2 after winning the Best Pal Stakes, and Litmus Test, an $875,000 yearling who won first time out. —Kevin Modesti, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025

Resolute Racing also stables Eclipse award winner Goodnight Olive, racehorse Just A Touch, and dozens more yearlings, foals and two year olds in training. —Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for yearling

• unfurling
• burling
• curling
• hurling
• pearling
• sperling
• sterling
• swirling
• twirling
• whirling

Kids Definition

yearling

noun

year·​ling ˈyi(ə)r-liŋ 

1

: one and especially an animal that is a year old or in the second year after birth

2

: a racehorse between January 1st of the year after the year in which it was born and the next January 1st

yearling adjective