pony

noun

po·​ny ˈpō-nē 

plural ponies

1

a

: a small horse

especially : one of any of several breeds of very small stocky animals noted for their gentleness and endurance

b

: a bronco, mustang, or similar horse of the western U.S.

c

: racehorse

—usually used in plural

2

: something smaller than standard: such as

a

: a small beer glass

b

: a small liqueur glass typically holding one ounce

3

: a literal translation of a foreign language text

especially : one used surreptitiously by students in preparing or reciting lessons

Examples of pony in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Importantly, pony stories were designed as juvenile fiction targeted at teenage white girls, with romantic relationships often operating as one of the challenges a heroine navigated — even as her relationship with her horse remained paramount. —Rebecca Scofield / Made By History, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025

Her on-trend leopard print pony hair tote, which also came courtesy of Saint Laurent. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2025

The first pony to reach the sand is given the honor of King or Queen Neptune and marked to be raffled during the celebration. —Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024

This change enabled a new fictional genre to develop: horse-girl fiction, which idealized stories about girls and their ponies. —Rebecca Scofield / Made By History, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from obsolete French poulenet, diminutive of French poulain colt, from Old French pulain, perhaps from Medieval Latin pullamen young animal, from Latin pullus — more at foal

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pony

• cow pony
• dog and pony show
• one-trick pony
• pony express
• pony up
• Shetland pony
• Welsh mountain pony
• Welsh pony

Kids Definition

pony

noun

po·​ny ˈpō-nē 

plural ponies

1

: a small horse

especially : a horse of any of several breeds of very small compact animals

2

: a word-for-word translation of a foreign language text