petting zoo

American  

noun

1. a zoo, or a special part of a larger zoo, where children may hold and stroke and sometimes feed small or young animals.

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Example Sentences

The companies also offer recommendations, like giving certain supplements or bringing babies to a petting zoo, which they said can improve children’s microbiomes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

The play park and petting zoo are empty.

From BBC • Oct. 4, 2024

In Drake’s petting zoo, families and children are all over the goats, which wander person to person searching for snacks and attention.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2024

Even with rainy weekends and a jump in admission prices, families have been coming out to visit the petting zoo, ride on giant slides and zigzag through a hay-bale maze.

From New York Times • Nov. 2, 2023

Opening the notebook, Nancy wrote, How is Buttons getting out of the petting zoo?

From "Pony Problems: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #3" by Carolyn Keene