plural oxen
ˈäk-sən 
also ox
also ox
1
: a domestic bovine mammal (Bos taurus)
broadly
: a bovine mammal
a team of oxen
2
: an adult castrated male domestic ox
Examples of ox in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bryan West, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
There are 12 signs in the Chinese zodiac (represented by animals—pig, ox, dog, rat, rooster, tiger, monkey, rabbit, goat, horse, and snake—and one mystical creature, the dragon), as well as five elemental attributes (water, earth, wood, metal, and fire).
—Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025
Not an ox by any means but strong at this level after putting in some work and even after lost training time to the shoulder surgery.
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Not welcome in his own house, just the ox to plow the field, the beast of burden.
—Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 2 May 2024
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Noun
Every 12 years the Lunar New Year cycles through the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
—Bryan West, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
There are 12 signs in the Chinese zodiac (represented by animals—pig, ox, dog, rat, rooster, tiger, monkey, rabbit, goat, horse, and snake—and one mystical creature, the dragon), as well as five elemental attributes (water, earth, wood, metal, and fire).
—Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025
Not an ox by any means but strong at this level after putting in some work and even after lost training time to the shoulder surgery.
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Not welcome in his own house, just the ox to plow the field, the beast of burden.
—Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ox
Dictionary Entries Near ox
Cite this Entry
“Ox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ox. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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