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

In Ankara, Turkish riders on horseback flanked Trump's limousine as it drove through the hushed streets to the presidential palace where an honour guard in red and blue uniforms greeted him.

From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026

Police officers on horseback have been dispersing crowds trying to gather along Nairobi streets.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Visitors can experience a variety of outdoor adventures including ziplining, canyoneering and horseback riding.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026

The resulting sequence sees her pursued on horseback by death personified, and it remains, 98 years later, a dazzling thrill on the big screen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

Behind the troopers were several dozen more of Sheriff Clark’s possemen, fifteen of them on horseback.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman