pronghorn

noun

prong·​horn ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯrn 

ˈpräŋ-

variants or less commonly pronghorn antelope

plural pronghorn or pronghorns also pronghorn antelope or pronghorn antelopes

: a swift horned ruminant mammal (Antilocapra americana) chiefly of grasslands and deserts of western North America that has a slender lean build and horns that in males grow to 10-16 inches (25-41 cm) long and have an additional forward-facing prong and in females grow to 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) long and lack a prong

Note: Although the pronghorn is sometimes informally called the pronghorn antelope or less commonly the American antelope, it belongs to a different family than true antelope and is the only living species of its family (Antilocapridae).

Illustration of pronghorn

Examples of pronghorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These monuments will play a vital role in saving hundreds of plants and animals, many of them unique to these landscapes, like the iconic Joshua Tree, desert bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope, Rodd Kelsey, director of land conservation for the Nature Conservancy, told ABC News in a statement. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2025

The land includes the beginning of a key migration corridor for the pronghorn, an antelope-like mammal with a habitat range spanning from Canada to parts of Texas. —Zack Budryk, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2024

Elk, bison, moose, mule deer and pronghorn call the Kelly Parcel home. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024

North America's fastest land animal and the world's second fastest land mammal after cheetahs, pronghorns are ungulates (hoofed animals), and are related to goats and antelope, according to National Wildlife Federation. —Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pronghorn

noun

prong·​horn ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯ(ə)rn 

ˈpräŋ-

plural pronghorn or pronghorns

: a cud-chewing horned mammal of treeless parts of western North America resembling an antelope

called also pronghorn antelope