filly

noun

fil·​ly ˈfi-lē How to pronounce filly (audio)
plural fillies
1
: a young female horse usually of less than four years
2
: a young woman : girl

Examples of filly in a Sentence

she's still a filly, so she has plenty of time to decide what she wants to do in life
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The beautiful horses are the main attraction at the Breeders’ Cup, from the Future Stars Friday as juveniles, to the fantastic fillies, magnificent mares and classic colts that produce a lifetime of enjoyment for their connections and fans. Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 Pictured above sailing to the top of her class last spring by winning the Kentucky Oaks in the raging slop on May 3, it’s become clear since then that not much, and certainly no other filly, can stop Thorpedo Anna. Guy Martin, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Nellie Morse became the fourth filly to win the Preakness Stakes, on May 12, 1924. Paul McCardell, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024 Friday marked the 150th Black-Eyed Susan Day, a running for 3-year-old fillies. CBS News, 18 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for filly 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fyly, from Old Norse fylja; akin to Old English fola foal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of filly was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near filly

Cite this Entry

“Filly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filly. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

filly

noun
fil·​ly ˈfil-ē How to pronounce filly (audio)
plural fillies
: a young female horse usually less than four years old

More from Merriam-Webster on filly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!