stallion
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of stallion
1275–1325; Middle English stalon < Old French estalon, equivalent to stal- (< Germanic; see stall 1) + -on noun suffix
Explanation
While the word stallion most often means "male horse," you can also call donkeys and zebras (as well as other horse relatives) stallions. A horse is frequently referred to as a stallion once he fathers a foal. While in most of the western world stallions are primarily kept for breeding, it is popular in parts of the Middle East and Asia for stallions to be used for riding (almost always by men). The word stallion comes from stall, referencing ancient laws requiring male breeding horses to be kept in stalls rather than allowed to wander in fields.
Vocabulary lists containing stallion
Elijah of Buxton
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 2, Week 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
They choose Rocky Balboa, who calls himself the Italian Stallion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Celebrities and brands such as Megan Thee Stallion, Jose Cuervo and Motorola have capitalized on the show’s success.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026
Megan Thee Stallion, like most pop stars, chronicles every major development in her life on her social media feed.
From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026
Megan Thee Stallion addressed the health scare on Instagram, calling it a “real wake-up call for me.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
When I was in the fourth grade, I started going upstairs to the junior high school library to check out the Black Stallion series.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
![]()
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.