Illustration of pronghorn
pronghorn
noun
prong·horn
ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯrn 
ˈpräŋ-
variants
or less commonly pronghorn antelope
plural pronghorn or pronghorns also pronghorn antelope or pronghorn antelopes
: a swift horned ruminant mammal (Antilocapra americana) chiefly of grasslands and deserts of western North America that has a slender lean build and horns that in males grow to 10-16 inches (25-41 cm) long and have an additional forward-facing prong and in females grow to 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) long and lack a prong
Note: Although the pronghorn is sometimes informally called the pronghorn antelope or less commonly the American antelope, it belongs to a different family than true antelope and is the only living species of its family (Antilocapridae).
Examples of pronghorn in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This allowed antler collectors and other interested buyers to walk past some of the piles of furs and stacks of trophy antlers — mostly from elk and mule deer, although the DWR says a few moose, sheep, and pronghorn are in the mix as well.
—
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2025
Only 137 pronghorn hunting tags were offered by CDFW in 2024.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
Possible sightings include elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and the resident bison roaming the park.
—Lynn O'Rourke Hayes, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
Why Can Bears Run So Fast? Bears aren’t built like greyhounds, cheetahs, or pronghorn antelope.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Feb. 2025
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Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2025
Only 137 pronghorn hunting tags were offered by CDFW in 2024.
—Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
Possible sightings include elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and the resident bison roaming the park.
—Lynn O'Rourke Hayes, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
Why Can Bears Run So Fast? Bears aren’t built like greyhounds, cheetahs, or pronghorn antelope.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pronghorn
Cite this Entry
“Pronghorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pronghorn. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pronghorn
noun
prong·horn
ˈprȯŋ-ˌhȯ(ə)rn
ˈpräŋ-
plural pronghorn or pronghorns
: a cud-chewing horned mammal of treeless parts of western North America resembling an antelope
called also pronghorn antelope
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