polo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral; sport-specific term for the game, casual for the shirt/candy.
Quick answer
What does “polo” mean?
A team sport played on horseback, where players use mallets to hit a ball into the opposing team's goal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A team sport played on horseback, where players use mallets to hit a ball into the opposing team's goal.
A shirt with a collar, often featuring a placket with two or three buttons; a refreshing mint-flavored candy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The shirt is universally called a 'polo shirt' or simply 'polo'. The game 'polo' is understood in both varieties.
Connotations
In the UK, 'polo' may have slightly stronger associations with high society/elitism due to the sport's historical roots. In the US, the shirt association is dominant and very casual.
Frequency
The term for the shirt ('polo neck' in UK refers to a different garment, a high, folded collar jumper) is far more frequent in everyday language than the sport in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “polo” in a Sentence
play + polobe dressed in + a polohave a + polowin/lose a + polo matchVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “polo” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He preferred a polo-neck jumper for the cold weather.
American English
- She bought a polo shirt for the golf outing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in branding or retail (e.g., 'polo shirt sales').
Academic
In historical or sports studies contexts.
Everyday
Common for the item of clothing ('I'll wear a polo').
Technical
Specific to equestrian sports equipment and rules.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “polo”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “polo”
- Using 'polo' to refer to any t-shirt (it specifically has a collar and placket).
- Pronouncing it /pɒləʊ/ instead of /pəʊləʊ/ in British English.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is lowercase for the sport, the shirt, and the candy. It is capitalized when part of a proper name (e.g., Polo Ralph Lauren brand, Marco Polo).
They are very similar, often used interchangeably. Historically, a tennis shirt might have a slightly longer tail and was designed for that sport, while the polo shirt was popularised by the brand Polo Ralph Lauren. In modern usage, the terms are largely synonymous.
Only by name and the basic concept of two teams trying to score a goal with a ball. Water polo is played in a pool, not on horseback, and has completely different rules and equipment.
No, 'polo' is not used as a standard verb in contemporary English. You 'play polo'.
A team sport played on horseback, where players use mallets to hit a ball into the opposing team's goal.
Polo is usually neutral; sport-specific term for the game, casual for the shirt/candy. in register.
Polo: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpəʊləʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpoʊloʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Polo players wear polo shirts.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common meaning of 'polo'?