horse race: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal. Common in news (sports, politics, business).
Quick answer
What does “horse race” mean?
A sporting event where horses, ridden by jockeys, run a set distance in competition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sporting event where horses, ridden by jockeys, run a set distance in competition.
Any situation characterized by a close, competitive contest between several participants, often with an unpredictable outcome.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The term is identical. The concept and associated vocabulary (e.g., 'furlong', 'handicap') are shared.
Connotations
In both, the literal meaning is neutral. The metaphorical use is slightly more common in American English political journalism.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties, given the global nature of the sport and the common metaphorical extension.
Grammar
How to Use “horse race” in a Sentence
[Adj] horse racehorse race for [NP] (e.g., a horse race for the presidency)horse race between [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “horse race” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The horse-race industry is significant here.
- He follows horse-race results closely.
American English
- The horse-race coverage dominated the sports news.
- They discussed horse-race politics all evening.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The smartphone market is a three-horse race between Apple, Samsung, and Google.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical or sociological studies of sport, gambling, or political science discussing campaign dynamics.
Everyday
Literal: 'We're going to the horse races this weekend.' Metaphorical: 'The election is turning into a real horse race.'
Technical
In sports journalism and betting industries, with precise terminology related to types of races, handicapping, and odds.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “horse race”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They horse race every weekend' is incorrect).
- Misspelling as one word 'horserace' (acceptable but less common than the two-word form).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly written as two separate words ('horse race'). The hyphenated form ('horse-race') is sometimes used, especially when functioning as a compound modifier (e.g., 'horse-race politics').
No, 'horse race' is not standardly used as a verb. For the action, you would say 'to race horses' or 'to go horse racing'.
'Horse racing' refers to the sport or activity in general. 'A horse race' refers to a single, specific event or contest within that sport.
It's a metaphor borrowed from sports journalism. It emphasises the competitive, fast-paced, and unpredictable nature of an election campaign, where candidates are seen as 'racing' against each other to win.
A sporting event where horses, ridden by jockeys, run a set distance in competition.
Horse race is usually neutral to formal. common in news (sports, politics, business). in register.
Horse race: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːs ˌreɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːrs ˌreɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a horse race (to indicate a close contest).”
- “A two-horse race (a competition with only two serious contenders).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RACE where the participants are HORSES. Simple compound: Horse + Race.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS A RACE, POLITICS/COMMERCE IS SPORT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'horse race' used metaphorically?