petting zoo

American  

noun

petting zoos plural

1. a zoo, or a special part of a larger zoo, where children may hold and stroke and sometimes feed small or young animals.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• petting zoos
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

petting zoo

The companies also offer recommendations, like giving certain supplements or bringing babies to a petting zoo, which they said can improve children’s microbiomes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026

The opening of Galaxy’s Edge was monumental — not just replacing a petting zoo and barbecue restaurant, but reshaping Disneyland’s Rivers of America and taking over a whopping 14 acres.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2025

“It’s very frustrating because I’m here in Montana trying to organize this search,” Ms. Keltgen, who runs a petting zoo in Anaconda, Mont., said in an interview on Saturday.

From New York Times ● May 4, 2024

Owner Kristine Keltgen recently bought the zebras and was transporting them from Lewis County to Montana, where she runs a 7-acre petting zoo.

From Seattle Times ● May 1, 2024

“They also had Ferris wheels, helicopter rides, and a petting zoo with baby tigers and pandas.”

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty