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

Community vendors are invited, and guests can participate in signing and singing, a 50/50 raffle and pony rides. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026

The material did not want a dog-and-pony show. —Chris Willman, Variety, 4 June 2026

Thirty blocks or so downtown at the Sony Room on the border of Times Square, Reid was the last person to make it to his own after-party, decidedly himself and not Lestat with his hair in a half-pony and his shirt on. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 3 June 2026

Enjoy live entertainment, games, inflatables, pony rides and more. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 1 June 2026

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