Roan
Roan (adj) means describing an animal's coat, especially a horse's, that has a solid base colour mixed with white hairs throughout. Example: “She rode a roan mare with a striking reddish-grey coat.”
How to use Roan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA coat colour on horses (and some cattle) where white hairs are evenly mixed through a darker base colour.
Word forms
roans plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She rode a _____ mare with a striking reddish-grey coat.
Etymology
From French roan, likely from a Spanish word ultimately tracing back to a Germanic root for "red."
Rhymes for Roan
See all rhymes for Roan →Frequently asked questions
What does “Roan” mean?
The word “Roan” means describing an animal's coat, especially a horse's, that has a solid base colour mixed with white hairs throughout. In plain terms, a coat colour on horses (and some cattle) where white hairs are evenly mixed through a darker base colour.
How do you pronounce “Roan”?
“Roan” is pronounced ROH-uhn (/ˈɹoʊ.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Roan” in a sentence?
Here is “Roan” used in a sentence: “She rode a roan mare with a striking reddish-grey coat.”
What part of speech is “Roan”?
Depending on how it is used, “Roan” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Roan” come from?
The word “Roan” comes from French. From French roan, likely from a Spanish word ultimately tracing back to a Germanic root for "red.".
How many meanings does “Roan” have?
“Roan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: describing an animal's coat, especially a horse's, that has a solid base colour mixed with white hairs throughout.