hornless

IPA/hˈɔːnləs/
KK[hˈɔrnləs]IPA/hˈɔːrnləs/

hornless — adjective

  • hornlesspositive
  • more hornlesscomparative
  • most hornlesssuperlative

1. used to describe an animal that does not have the hard pointed growth on its hea

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

used to describe an animal that does not have the hard pointed growth on its head that cattle, sheep, and goats typically have

Example

The Okonkwo family chose hornless goats for their farm to prevent injuries during transport.

collocation: hornless goats

The Watanabe family developed a hornless sheep breed now popular among small farms.

passive: developed by [family]

Common collocations
  • hornless goat
  • hornless sheep
  • hornless cattle
  • hornless breed
  • hornless ram
Synonyms
  • polled

    technical term used in animal breeding; describes breeds genetically born without horns

  • unhorned

    less common; can refer to animals that have never grown horns or have had them removed

Antonyms
  • horned

    having one or more horns on the head

Usage Note

Most common in agricultural and animal-breeding contexts. The technical term for naturally hornless breeds is 'polled'.

Common Mistakes

This tool is hornless.
This tool has no handle.
'hornless' is used for animals, not for objects or tools.
The cat is a hornless animal.
Most domestic cats are naturally hornless.
'hornless' is usually stated only when the presence of horns would be expected, as with cattle, goats, or sheep.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words relate to the absence of horns on animals, but they differ in meaning and context. 'Polled' is the technical breeding term for animals genetically born without horns — you will find it in agricultural catalogues and breed standards ('polled Hereford'). 'Unhorned' is a general, less common adjective that can describe any animal without horns, whether naturally or by removal. 'Dehorned' specifically means the horns were surgically or chemically removed after birth, so it implies a procedure took place. For everyday use, 'hornless' is the clearest choice; use 'polled' when discussing genetics or breeds, 'dehorned' when discussing animal management practices.

polled ↗unhorneddehorned

Etymology

GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

Formed from the noun 'horn' (the hard pointed growth on the heads of some animals, from Old English 'horn') plus the suffix '-less' (meaning 'without'). The word has been used since the 13th century, mainly in descriptions of livestock.