rodeo

American  

[roh-dee-oh, roh-dey-oh] / ˈroʊ diˌoʊ, roʊˈdeɪ oʊ /

noun

plural

rodeos

1. a public exhibition of cowboy skills, as bronco riding and calf roping.

2. a roundup of cattle.

3. Informal. any contest offering prizes in various events.

   a bicycle rodeo for kids under twelve.

4. (initial capital letter, italics) a ballet (1942) choreographed by Agnes de Mille, with musical score by Aaron Copland.

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verb (used without object)

rodeoed, rodeoing

1. to participate or compete in a rodeo or rodeos.

   He's been rodeoing since he was twelve.

rodeo British  

/ ˈrəʊdɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. a display of the skills of cowboys, including bareback riding, steer wrangling, etc

2. the rounding up of cattle for branding, counting, inspection, etc

3. an enclosure for cattle that have been rounded up

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Other Word Forms

• rodeoer noun

Etymology

Origin of rodeo

1825–35; < Spanish: cattle ring, derivative of rodear to go round, itself derivative of rueda wheel < Latin rota

Explanation

A rodeo is a type of entertainment that shows off cowboy skills, such as wrestling steers and roping cattle. In the western United States, a popular type of entertainment is an exhibition known as a rodeo. A rodeo is a place where cowboys demonstrate what they can do for a crowd. Many of these skills are dangerous, like wrestling a steer or riding a bull. Some skills involve lassos and other uses of rope, such as roping (tying up) a goat. These skills are for entertainment at a rodeo, but they're necessary on a cattle ranch.

Example Sentences

While I’m keeping the app option in my back pocket for later, we decided to go analog for our first budgeting rodeo by staring down our raw bank statements.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

It has seen this rodeo before: The smartphone revolution was one such cycle, and AI is another.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

“Fight or Fall” is a gorgeous midtempo ballad urging unity among men, and “Cowboy Song” looks at the lonely independence of a rodeo bronco-buster.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

Bull-riding, still a staple on the U.S. rodeo circuit, originated in the vibrant vaquero tradition of charreadas — contests showcasing participants’ skills with horses, ropes and livestock.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

Choosing a less densely covered area of the ceiling he aims at the spot, and as he throws he lets out a bloodcurdling scream which would not be out of place in a bronco-busting rodeo.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Related Words

• festival