filly

noun

fil·​ly ˈfi-lē How to pronounce filly (audio)
plural fillies
Synonyms of fillynext
1
: a young female horse usually of less than four years
2
: a young woman : girl

Synonyms of filly

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Examples of filly in a Sentence

she's still a filly, so she has plenty of time to decide what she wants to do in life
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.
This is the premier stage for three-year-old fillies. — Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026 The race is a prelude to the Preakness, featuring 3-year-old fillies (female race horses). — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2026 Friday belongs to the Kentucky Oaks, the country’s most famous race for 3-year-old fillies. — Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 6 May 2026 The annual race comes a day after the Black-Eyed Susan race, which features 3-year-old fillies. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for filly

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fyly, from Old Norse fylja; akin to Old English fola foal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of filly was in the 15th century

Rhymes for filly

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Browse Nearby Words

fill-up
filly
film
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Cite this Entry

“Filly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filly. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

filly

noun
fil·​ly ˈfil-ē How to pronounce filly (audio)
plural fillies
: a young female horse usually less than four years old

More from Merriam-Webster on filly

Nglish: Translation of filly for Spanish Speakers

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