poncho

American  

[pon-choh] / ˈpɒn tʃoʊ /

noun

plural

ponchos

1. a blanketlike cloak with a hole in the center to admit the head, originating in South America, now often worn as a raincoat.

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poncho British  

/ ˈpɒntʃəʊ /

noun

1. a cloak of a kind originally worn in South America, made of a rectangular or circular piece of cloth, esp wool, with a hole in the middle to put the head through

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Other Word Forms

• ponchoed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of poncho

First recorded in 1710–20; from Latin American Spanish: further origin uncertain; perhaps from Araucanian pontho “woolen fabric”; perhaps from Old Spanish poncho “a mantle or cloak”; perhaps a back formation from ponchón “lazy, sluggish”; perhaps an alteration of unrecorded pochón, an augmentative of pocho “pale, faded,” and probably akin to pachón “phlegmatic, sluggish”

Example Sentences

MW: I go down to Texas to work with my nephew Poncho.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

Now, authorities are asking the public’s help in locating Poncho, her faithful canine companion, who has been missing for days.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2025

The crowd was noticeably intergenerational, like the band onstage: Replacing Crazy Horse’s now-retired rhythm guitarist Poncho Sampedro was Willie Nelson’s 33-year-old son, Micah, who beautifully and steadily supported Young’s incandescent soloing.

From New York Times • May 17, 2024

To prepare for rain, consider a waterproof backpack cover and a rain Poncho to stay dry.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 25, 2022

Poncho Man dipped his head as if pointing to his open guitar case.

From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia