yearling
Americannoun
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an animal in its second year.
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a horse one year old, dating from January 1 of the year after the year of foaling.
adjective
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being a year old.
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of a year's duration or standing.
a yearling bride.
noun
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the young of any of various animals, including the antelope and buffalo, between one and two years of age
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a thoroughbred racehorse counted for racing purposes as being one year old until the second Jan 1 following its birth
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a bond that is intended to mature after one year
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( as modifier )
yearling bonds
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adjective
Etymology
Origin of yearling
1425–75; late Middle English; year, -ling 1; cognate with German Jährling
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.
Doak added that she and the other volunteers named the yearling "Cookie".
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
When Flag is on the verge of becoming a yearling, Jody’s father says, “He’ll be like a person standin’ on the state line.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026
Eclipse bought 11 horses during what would be Journalism’s yearling crop.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2025
The yearling would have barely made a sound as she trotted through brush and dry pine needles on an overgrown path that dropped into a steep canyon.
From National Geographic • Aug. 25, 2023
When he was a yearling, the father had brought a fan to his boy’s room.
From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
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.
