sleigh
Americannoun
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a light vehicle on runners, usually open and generally horse-drawn, used especially for transporting persons over snow or ice.
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a sled.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sleigh
Explanation
A sleigh is a large sled that's pulled by horses, or in the case of Santa Claus, by reindeer. A sleigh is usually big enough for at least two passengers to ride in. Most sleighs travel across snow or ice, sliding on smooth runners, and are pulled by one or more horses. In Britain, this is more often called a sledge, or sometimes a sled. In North America, a sled is much smaller than a sleigh, and it's used for fun rather than transportation. Sleigh comes from the Dutch slee.
Vocabulary lists containing sleigh
Joy To The Word: Christmas Terms
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Let's Go Caroling, List 3
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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.
See Examples For:
And at the end of it all, Colbert flew off in Santa’s sleigh toting his prized Captain America shield, with unicorn Abraham Lincoln and “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, the man with all the answers.
From Salon ● May 21, 2026
Low trading volumes can also bring volatility, as relatively little selling may spark outsize moves, so investors should be ready for bumps on any sleigh ride to a year-end rally.
From Barron's ● Dec. 24, 2025
So too is Richard, whose only big purchase was a Santa in a sleigh with reindeer standing less than 4 feet tall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
Events will show the cultural links between the countries, including a sleigh designed in 1845 by the German-born Prince Albert, who was married to Queen Victoria.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2025
—Soulzeren and Ozwin Eoh, a married couple: she a mechanist, he a farmer-botanist, who together had invented a craft they called a silk sleigh.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Mr Cook asked motorists to "exercise extreme caution and vigilance" on the roads, "especially around Santa sleighs as there are often families and children crossing the roads nearby".
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2023
In addition to more than 60 vehicles on display — including buggies, sleighs and wagons — there is a one-room schoolhouse and a wheelwright/blacksmith shop that give visitors a glimpse into the past.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 16, 2023
Much survived, however, including a wagon, textiles, sculptures of animal heads and three sleighs, which are unique.
From Reuters ● Nov. 16, 2022
In her article, Hamill researched the origins of "Jingle Bells," its composer, James L. Pierpont, and other songs about sleighs that appeared during the mid-1800s.
From Fox News ● Jan. 2, 2022
Soulzeren and Ozwin for reaching it in their silk sleighs.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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.
