pony

pony — noun

1. a horse from a breed that stays small when it is fully grown

1.nounC1
Definition

a horse from a breed that stays small when it is fully grown

Example

Nina brushed the pony before the riding lesson began.

collocation: brush the pony

A white pony carried Leo around the field at camp.

Common collocations
  • ride a pony
  • brush a pony
  • lead a pony
  • pony ride
Synonyms
  • horse

    a broader word for any horse, not only a small breed

  • foal

    means a young horse by age, not a small horse type

  • miniature horse

    a more specific term for a very small horse breed

  • colt

    a young male horse, so it focuses on sex and age, not size

Usage Note

Often used for breeds that remain short as adults and for riding animals in children's lessons. Distinguish from "foal": a foal is young because of age, but a pony may be fully grown.

Common Mistakes

The foal gave rides to tourists all summer.
The pony gave rides to tourists all summer.
A foal is a baby horse; a pony can be an adult animal.
Two ponys were eating by the fence.
Two ponies were eating by the fence.
The plural changes y to ies.

2. a way of tying the hair back in one bunch behind the head

2.noun
Definition

a way of tying the hair back in one bunch behind the head

Example

Jill tied her hair into a pony before gym class.

pattern: tie hair into a pony

During lunch, Emma fixed her loose pony with a blue band.

Common collocations
  • high pony
  • low pony
  • wear a pony
  • tie your hair into a pony
Synonyms
  • ponytail

    the full and more neutral word for the same hairstyle

  • bun

    hair tied up in a round shape, not hanging down

  • braid

    hair woven into strands rather than tied in one tail

Usage Note

Informal short form of "ponytail". Common after verbs such as "tie", "wear", "put", and "fix" when talking about hair.

Common Mistakes

She tied her hair to a pony.
She tied her hair into a pony.
Use 'into' for changing the hairstyle.
My sister made a ponytail hair.
My sister made a pony.
In informal use, 'pony' already means this hairstyle.
Idioms

a dog and pony show

idiom

An event designed mainly to impress people and gain their support or money.

The company's product launch was just a dog and pony show.

Did the CEO's dog and pony show convince the board to invest?

(on) Shanks’s pony

idiom

A way of saying that you are walking instead of using a vehicle.

We missed the bus, so we used Shanks's pony.

How did you get to the park? Shanks's pony!

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

"Pony" is used for a horse that belongs to a small breed, so it may be fully grown and still be called a pony. "Horse" is the broad everyday word and does not tell you anything about size. "Foal" means a baby horse, so it is about age, not breed. "Miniature horse" is more specific and is often used for especially small animals that are not simply called ponies. "Colt" means a young male horse. Say "The children rode ponies at the farm," but "The foal stayed close to its mother in the field."

horse ↗foalminiature horsecolt

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchFrenchEnglish

The word probably came into English through French forms related to a word for a young horse. Those forms may go back to Latin words for a young animal. In English, the meaning settled on a horse that stays small even when grown.