poncho

American  

[pon-choh] / ˈpɒn tʃoʊ /

noun

ponchos plural

1. a blanketlike cloak with a hole in the center to admit the head, originating in South America, now often worn as a raincoat.

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poncho British  

/ ˈpɒntʃəʊ /

noun

1. a cloak of a kind originally worn in South America, made of a rectangular or circular piece of cloth, esp wool, with a hole in the middle to put the head through

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ponchoed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ponchos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of poncho

First recorded in 1710–20; from Latin American Spanish: further origin uncertain; perhaps from Araucanian pontho “woolen fabric”; perhaps from Old Spanish poncho “a mantle or cloak”; perhaps a back formation from ponchón “lazy, sluggish”; perhaps an alteration of unrecorded pochón, an augmentative of pocho “pale, faded,” and probably akin to pachón “phlegmatic, sluggish”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

poncho ponchos

"It's crazy," said Javier Maciel, a 25-year-old fan wrapped in a poncho with the colors of the Mexican flag.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

One soldier aided an older woman, her body wrapped in a poncho as the clouds thickened above.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2025

Also at the fanzone, Kelly Wood, 39, from North Shields, was wearing a plastic poncho and said she had been swilled with beer when the goals went in.

From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2025

“When we first came here, in ’64, I was dressed up in a poncho with a holster and a toy gun,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2024

"I heard Heather's poncho is made out of real cashmere," Bess said.

From "Sleepover Sleuths: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #1" by Carolyn Keene

Outside Glasgow Green vendors had switched from selling water-proof ponchos on Friday to sunglasses and bottles of water, as the sun beat down on crowds heading towards the event.

From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026

Those who did attend used umbrellas, ponchos and awnings to protect themselves from the downpour.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2026

Some residents donned rain ponchos and motorbike helmets to protect themselves from the rain as they traversed flooded streets.

From Barron's ● Nov. 28, 2025

Down at a slightly damp Reading Festival site, ponchos are very much in fashion.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2024

Maybeth helped Dicey fold up the ponchos and pack them into her bag.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt