: having the base color (such as red, black, or brown) muted and lightened by admixture of white hairs
a roan horse
a roan calf
1
: an animal (such as a horse) with a roan coat
—usually used of a red roan when unqualified
2
: the color of a roan horse
—used especially when the base color is red
: sheepskin tanned with sumac and colored and finished to imitate morocco
Examples of roan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 2 May 2023
The 2023 Kentucky Derby will feature four gray or roan horses.
—Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 2 May 2023
The gray/roan contingent is also due for a trip to the winner's circle, with the last to get there being Giacomo in Derby 131.
—Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2023
Hit Show Color: Gray/roan Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Candy Ride Dam: Actress, by Tapit Price tag: Homebred Owners: Gary and Mary West, 0 for 5 in Derby.
—Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Apr. 2023
Award-winning conservation photographer Anthony Ochieng Onyango devotes his time to capturing images of decreasing populations, such as the roan antelope.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 22 Apr. 2023
Colors of the 312 nominees — 129 bay, 94 dark bay/brown, 60 chestnut and 29 gray/roan.
—Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 9 Feb. 2022
Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SMILEY — The red roan quarter horse named Pruitt looks like he’s been in the equine equivalent of a bar fight.
—Richard A. Marini, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Aug. 2022
This happened in the case of the giant sable antelope and roan antelope in southern Africa.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022
Noun
Only eight gray or roan horses have ever won the first leg of the Triple Crown.
—Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 2 May 2023
The 2023 Kentucky Derby will feature four gray or roan horses.
—Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 2 May 2023
The gray/roan contingent is also due for a trip to the winner's circle, with the last to get there being Giacomo in Derby 131.
—Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2023
Hit Show Color: Gray/roan Bred in: Kentucky Sire: Candy Ride Dam: Actress, by Tapit Price tag: Homebred Owners: Gary and Mary West, 0 for 5 in Derby.
—Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Apr. 2023
Award-winning conservation photographer Anthony Ochieng Onyango devotes his time to capturing images of decreasing populations, such as the roan antelope.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 22 Apr. 2023
Colors of the 312 nominees — 129 bay, 94 dark bay/brown, 60 chestnut and 29 gray/roan.
—Jason Frakes, The Courier-Journal, 9 Feb. 2022
Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SMILEY — The red roan quarter horse named Pruitt looks like he’s been in the equine equivalent of a bar fight.
—Richard A. Marini, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Aug. 2022
This happened in the case of the giant sable antelope and roan antelope in southern Africa.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'roan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near roan
Cite this Entry
“Roan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roan. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roan
1 of 2 adjective
: of a dark color (as black, red, or brown) sprinkled with white
a roan horse
roan
2 of 2 noun
: an animal (as a horse) with a roan coat
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