equestrian
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to horseback riding or horseback riders.
equestrian skill.
-
mounted on horseback.
equestrian knights.
-
representing a person mounted on a horse.
an equestrian statue.
-
pertaining to or composed of knights or mounted warriors.
an equestrian code of honor.
-
of or relating to the ancient Roman equites.
noun
-
equestrians
plural
adjective
-
of or relating to horses and riding
-
on horseback; mounted
-
depicting or representing a person on horseback
an equestrian statue
-
of, relating to, or composed of Roman equites
-
of, relating to, or composed of knights, esp the imperial free knights of the Holy Roman Empire
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of equestrian
1650–60; < Latin equestri ( s ) (compare eques horseman) + -an
Explanation
An equestrian is an expert horseback rider. If you only go riding for an hour while on vacation you aren't an equestrian, but the person leading the group and riding the flashy horse probably is. When you know that equus is the Latin word for "horse," the meaning of equestrian becomes clear. An equestrian is someone who is involved with horses. You can also use it as an adjective to describe anything having to do with horseback riding. An aspiring equestrian may have to give up socializing with friends in favor of equestrian duties like grooming horses.
Vocabulary lists containing equestrian
Horsin' Around
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In a public LA28 Facebook group, a member named Tara initially described the $1,700-per-person price for a three-hour equestrian event as “robbery” but four days later, announced their decision to “splurge.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
Horses have been evacuated from an equestrian centre near Paris as the Fontainebleau wildfire continues to rage.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
These days, Pegula resides with her husband, wealth management executive Taylor Gahagen, and their dogs in Boca Raton, Fla., where her family also owns a huge equestrian spread.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
An equestrian statue of Grant sits atop a tall plinth, flanked by two bronze figure groups.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
She attached cameras to saddles for equestrian events and floated them on pontoon boats for swimming events.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
![]()
Local volunteers have since helped transform the track into a 20+ mile long path for walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and mobility scooters, with some sections also open to equestrians.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
One horse sported wear on its teeth suggesting it was controlled by a bit typically used by elite equestrians in the Middle Ages.
From Science Magazine ● Mar. 21, 2024
The move leaves equestrians in a big swath of horse country, from the foothills and canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains to the Chino Hills, on their own once again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2023
Mr. Russell is the patriarch of an extended family of equestrians.
From New York Times ● Jul. 11, 2023
The ten minutes John had given seemed very long, but at last wheels were heard; four equestrians galloped up the drive, and after them came two open carriages.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.