polo
POH-loh
Polo (noun) means a team sport played on horseback, in which riders use long mallets to hit a ball into the opposing goal. Example: “The prince has played polo since he was a boy.”
noun
1
A team sport played on horseback, in which riders use long mallets to hit a ball into the opposing goal.
"The prince has played polo since he was a boy."
"Wealthy spectators sipped champagne along the edge of the polo field."
"He took lessons in polo at a countryside club last summer."
2
A short-sleeved, collared knit shirt, typically with a few buttons at the neck.
"He wore a navy polo tucked into chino shorts."
"All the staff wear a green polo with the cafe logo."
"I need a plain white polo for the school trip."
How to use polo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the horseback ball sport played by the wealthy and by royals, or the casual collared shirt named after it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
play polo
a polo shirt
a game of polo
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Word forms
- Plural
- polos
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The prince has played _____ since he was a boy.
Etymology
From a Balti word meaning "ball," reaching English via the game's spread from Central Asia through British colonial India.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for polo
See all rhymes for polo →Frequently asked questions
What does “polo” mean?
The word “polo” means a team sport played on horseback, in which riders use long mallets to hit a ball into the opposing goal. In plain terms, either the horseback ball sport played by the wealthy and by royals, or the casual collared shirt named after it.
How do you pronounce “polo”?
“Polo” is pronounced POH-loh (/ˈpoʊloʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “polo” in a sentence?
Here is “polo” used in a sentence: “The prince has played polo since he was a boy.”
What part of speech is “polo”?
“Polo” is a noun.
Is “polo” a common word?
“Polo” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “polo” have?
“Polo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a team sport played on horseback, in which riders use long mallets to hit a ball into the opposing goal.
What is the difference between polo and water polo?
Polo is a team sport played on horseback where riders use long mallets to hit a ball into the opposing goal, while water polo is a separate sport played by swimmers in a pool without horses or mallets. The two share only the name and a loose team-sport structure.
What is the difference between a polo shirt and a t-shirt?
A polo shirt is a short-sleeved, collared knit shirt typically with a few buttons at the neck, while a t-shirt has no collar and no buttons. Polo shirts are generally considered slightly more formal than plain t-shirts.
Why is a polo shirt called a polo?
The polo shirt takes its name from the sport of polo, since the style was originally adopted by polo players for its comfortable, practical collared design.
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