plural donkeys
1
: the domestic ass (Equus asinus)
2
: a stupid or obstinate person

Examples of donkey in a Sentence

we put our bags on the donkey and headed down the canyon called him a donkey when he refused to go along with their plans
Recent Examples on the Web To get around, visitors must walk or use donkeys and mules. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024 Readers are also reassured that burritos do not contain any donkey products. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024 Instead, transportation comes in the form of mules and donkeys treading steep climbing paths, according to the Visit Sicily website. Amarachi Orie, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024 There’s also a donkey sanctuary with 15 donkeys and an amphitheater with stone steps overlooking the ocean. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2024 Guest, who founded Artemis Farm Rescue for miniature horses and donkeys, says acts both large and small make a world of difference. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024 The Shamrocks Stickers on The Leprechaun's Hat $7.98 Help your kids experience the old-school game, pin the tail on the donkey, except with stickers and leprechauns. Christopher Murray, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2024 Saleh loaded up his family’s donkey and walked with his wife and kids through their village, across from the road where Israelis-only buses took settlers to their jobs, and down to their plot of trees. Shane Bauer, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Something a little different for this year is the mini petting zoo, where guests can cuddle and feed a range of animals, like Shetland ponies, donkeys and lambs. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'donkey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of donkey was circa 1785

Dictionary Entries Near donkey

Cite this Entry

“Donkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/donkey. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

donkey

noun
plural donkeys
1
: a sturdy domestic mammal that is classified with the asses and is used especially to carry things
2
: a stupid or stubborn person

More from Merriam-Webster on donkey

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