gelding

noun

geld·​ing ˈgel-diŋ How to pronounce gelding (audio)
1
: a castrated animal
specifically : a castrated male horse
2
archaic : eunuch

Examples of gelding in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Averill got started in horse racing the same year that Werth was cashing in on U.S. Jets, partnering on a gelding named Fun n’ Gun that year. Dana O'Neil, New York Times, 2 May 2025 In this year's Derby, Hernandez will be riding Burnham Square, the bay gelding who won last month's Blue Grass Stakes in Kentucky and Florida's Holy Bull Stakes in February and was given 12-1 odds in the morning line. Alex Sundby, CBS News, 2 May 2025 Valley of Fire, a 3-year-old gelding, broke both front legs during training and was euthanized on the track. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025 Ling even brought a horse — a gray gelding called Banner — to the opening. Samantha Conti, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gelding

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old Norse geldingr, from gelda

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gelding was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gelding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gelding. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

gelding

noun
geld·​ing ˈgel-diŋ How to pronounce gelding (audio)
: a castrated animal
especially : a castrated male horse

Medical Definition

gelding

noun
geld·​ing ˈgel-diŋ How to pronounce gelding (audio)
: a castrated animal
specifically : a castrated male horse

More from Merriam-Webster on gelding

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