# polo

/ˈpoʊɫoʊ/ (US) · /pˈəʊləʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/polo
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the sport on horseback

noun · CEFR B1

a game where two teams on horses use long sticks to hit a ball into a goal.

For teachers: a team sport played on horseback in which players use long-handled mallets to drive a wooden ball into the opposing team's goal.

- The royal family often attends polo matches during the summer months.
- Polo requires exceptional equestrian skill and coordination, as players must guide their horses while swinging heavy mallets at high speeds.

### 2. a type of shirt

noun · CEFR A2

a casual shirt with a collar and a few buttons at the neck.

For teachers: a casual, short-sleeved cotton shirt with a collar and a short placket typically featuring two or three buttons.

- He wore a blue polo and khaki trousers to the office party.
- The company dress code allows for polo shirts on Fridays, provided they are neatly tucked and free of large logos.

### 3. water polo

noun · CEFR B1

a team sport played in a swimming pool where players throw a ball into a net.

For teachers: a competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players who attempt to score by throwing a ball into the opponent's goal.

- She joined the university polo team to improve her swimming strength.
- Water polo is notoriously physically demanding, requiring athletes to tread water for long periods while engaging in intense tactical play.

### 5. in the game Marco Polo

interjection · CEFR B2 · Informal

the word you shout back when someone calls 'Marco' in a swimming pool game.

For teachers: the conventional response shouted by players in the children's game Marco Polo to reveal their location to the seeker.

- The children spent all afternoon shouting 'Marco' and 'Polo' in the pool.
- In the game of Marco Polo, the seeker relies entirely on the auditory feedback of the other players' responses to navigate the pool.

### 6. a rice dish

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

another name for pilaf, a dish made of rice cooked in a seasoned soup.

For teachers: a variant spelling or regional name for pilaf, consisting of rice cooked in a seasoned broth with meat or vegetables.

- The restaurant serves a traditional lamb polo with raisins and carrots.
- The chef prepared a fragrant saffron polo, ensuring each grain of rice remained distinct and perfectly seasoned.

## Examples

- He spends his weekends playing polo at the local club.
- The annual polo match attracted a large crowd of spectators dressed in formal summer attire.
- Historically associated with the aristocracy, polo requires a high degree of coordination between the rider and the pony to navigate the field at high speeds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.