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

Material play was also in focus, with pony hair leather fashioned in a Bambi print. —Lily Templeton, WWD, 12 Mar. 2025

The park’s wild ponies were originally brought here in the 1970s to control forest growth. —Casey Barber, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025

From half-up to retro ponies and surprisingly bouncy waves, there’s a little something for everyone. —Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2025

Wild ponies, svelte & savage, graze in dune grasses, whinny, yawn. —J.t. Townley, The New York Review of Books, 6 Mar. 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

Rhymes for pony

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

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