horseback

American  

[hawrs-bak] / ˈhɔrsˌbæk /

noun

1. the back of a horse.

2. Geology. a low, natural ridge of sand or gravel; an esker.

---

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

---

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

More officers should patrol on horseback, bicycle and foot, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Its glacial flatness doesn’t lend itself to crusades, or to impressive scenes like a man on horseback silhouetted against the sunset.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

But his relentless pursuit does make him something of an Odysseus on horseback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

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

“What do you say to a ride on horseback this morning?” he asked.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---