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• polo
  polo

  noun

  a game played on horseback between two teams, each of four players, the object being to score points by driving a wooden ball into the opponents' goal using a long-handled mallet.
• Polo
  Polo

  noun

  Marco c1254–1324, Venetian traveler.

polo

¹ American  

[poh-loh] / ˈpoʊ loʊ /

noun

1. a game played on horseback between two teams, each of four players, the object being to score points by driving a wooden ball into the opponents' goal using a long-handled mallet.

2. any game broadly resembling this, especially water polo.

3. polo shirt.

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Polo ² American  

[poh-loh] / ˈpoʊ loʊ /

noun

1. Marco c1254–1324, Venetian traveler.

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polo ¹ British  

/ ˈpəʊləʊ /

noun

1. a game similar to hockey played on horseback using long-handled mallets ( polo sticks ) and a wooden ball

2. any of several similar games, such as one played on bicycles

3. short for water polo

4. Also called: polo neck.

   1. a collar on a garment, worn rolled over to fit closely round the neck

   2. a garment, esp a sweater, with such a collar

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Polo ² British  

/ ˈpəʊləʊ /

noun

1. Marco (ˈmɑːkəʊ). 1254–1324, Venetian merchant, famous for his account of his travels in Asia. After travelling overland to China (1271–75), he spent 17 years serving Kublai Khan before returning to Venice by sea (1292–95)

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Other Word Forms

• poloist
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of polo

1835–45; < Balti (Tibetan language of Kashmir): ball

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Explanation

Polo is a game in which players on horseback use long mallets to hit rolling balls. Polo is basically field hockey with horses. Modern polo was developed by British military officers in colonial India during the 19th century, inspired by an ancient South Asian sport. Its nickname, "the sport of kings," reflects polo's reputation as a pastime for the wealthy. To play polo, you need a horse — also known as a polo pony — and to belong to a club where the game can be practiced and played competitively. The name polo comes from the Tibetan pulu, "ball."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

polo Polo

Argentinian polo champion Nacho Figueras and his son, Hilario Figueras, recently purchased a three-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom unit spanning 2,951 square feet, which was listed for $3.116 million.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

Jensen Huang started Nvidia wearing garden-variety polo shirts but is now probably legally required to buy every single black leather jacket he comes across for the rest of his life.

From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2026

Whittier High’s water polo team has discovered a top player in freshman Emiliano Plascencia.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

He once told a lobbyist who raised quarter horses that he owned a herd of polo ponies, just to one-up him.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

He looks extra golfy today, in a tucked-in polo shirt, and now I can’t unsee the Prince William thing.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

The famed resort town was hit by Hurricane Polo in late September and again by Hurricane Simon days later.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026

The Pacific has already seen several hurricanes, including Polo, which at one point reached level 5 in strength.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Police said she was pronounced dead at the scene, and a front seat passenger of the Polo was taken to hospital for treatment.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Hurricane Polo is bringing hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall to Mexico’s west coast after its recent landfall.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

He’s wearing dark jeans, a Polo rugby shirt with the huge oversize polo-player-on-a-horse symbol, and a cool leather jacket—no robe, cape, or helmet.

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick

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