horseback

American  

[hawrs-bak] / ˈhɔrsˌbæk /

noun

1. the back of a horse.

2. Geology. a low, natural ridge of sand or gravel; an esker.

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adverb

1. on horseback.

   to ride horseback.

adjective

1. made or given in a casual or speculative way; approximate or offhand.

   a horseback estimate on the construction costs.

horseback British  

/ ˈhɔːsˌbæk /

noun

1. 1. a horse's back (esp in the phrase on horseback )

   2. ( as modifier )

      horseback riding

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Etymology

Origin of horseback

1350–1400; Middle English. See horse, back ¹

Explanation

If you ride your trusty steed to school, you're traveling on horseback. Your arrival is going to make your classmates wish they had their own ponies! When horseback is used as a noun, it means "the back of a horse." It's more commonly used to describe someone who sits on a horse's back, a horseback rider, or as an adverb to describe that mode of transportation. Even if you're not experienced with horses, you may dream of one day going horseback riding on a beautiful beach!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

horseback

Among the main events is kok-boru, a horseback sport where riders must gain control of a goat carcass and throw it into the opponent's goal.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

Its glacial flatness doesn’t lend itself to crusades, or to impressive scenes like a man on horseback silhouetted against the sunset.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

Videos on social media showed officers on horseback pushing back crowds on the beach and a helicopter making announcements for visitors to leave.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

The royal visit also coincided with the start of the Jethart Callant's Festival with the town's principals arriving on horseback to meet His Majesty.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

Till the rustling reaches the clearing and I see the Mayor himself come outta the trees on horseback, leading other men, also on horses.

From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness