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
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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:
Eagle Rock Resort, in Hazle Township, has hundreds of comfortable homes scattered through the woods, two golf courses, swimming pools, an equestrian center and even a few ski slopes for the winter.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
The Fourth Plinth was left empty for more than 150 years after money ran out for an equestrian statue of William IV.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
On Monday, it said it would open space to house 1,500 migrants in a parking lot, a playing field and an equestrian center.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
The property is also fully equipped as an equestrian facility, boasting a 3,800-square-foot horse barn, with eight stalls, a tack room, and a hay loft.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
He was twelve years her senior and glamorous in the way only an equestrian director can be.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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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
Their mission goes beyond the saddle — they’re about preserving tradition, building cultural bridges and creating a more inclusive future for the next generation of equestrians.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2025
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
Helmet inclusivity is important, Black equestrians said, because it could mean the difference between life and death.
From New York Times ● Mar. 3, 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
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.