What does "furlong" mean?
A unit of distance equal to one-eighth of a mile (220 yards, or 201.168 metres), now mainly used in measuring distances in farmland and horse racing.
Furlong
/ˈfɜːlɒŋ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A unit of distance equal to one-eighth of a mile (220 yards, or 201.168 metres), now mainly used in measuring distances in farmland and horse racing.
- Grammar: furlong is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: distance measure, distance unit, imperial unit, kilometer.
- Usage evidence: The horses did a six furlong workout this morning.
How to use "furlong"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "furlong" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "furlong" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "furlong" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "furlong" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "furlong" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "distance measure" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "furlong", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A unit of distance equal to one-eighth of a mile (220 yards, or 201.168 metres), now mainly used in measuring distances in farmland and horse racing.
"Novv vvould I giue a thouſand furlongs of Sea, for an Acre of barren ground: Long heath, Brovvne firrs, any thing; the vvills aboue be done, but I vvould faine dye a dry death."
- 2 a unit of length equal to 220 yards wordnet
- 3 A unit of land area one furlong (sense 1) square (ten acres, or about four hectares). dated
- 4 An undefined portion of an unenclosed field. British, dated, dialectal
- 5 Synonym of stadion (“a Greek unit of distance based on standardized footraces, equivalent to about 185.4 metres”). historical
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Synonym of headland (“unploughed boundary of a field”). dialectal
- 7 Synonym of land (“the ground left unploughed between furrows”). dialectal
- 8 Synonym of land (“any of several portions into which a field is divided for ploughing”). dialectal
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname. countable, uncountable
- 2 An unincorporated community in Buckingham Township and Doylestown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The horses did a six furlong workout this morning."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "furlong"?
Common synonyms include: distance measure, distance unit, imperial unit, kilometer, length unit, measure.
How do you use "furlong" in a sentence?
The horses did a six furlong workout this morning.
How do you pronounce "furlong"?
Pronounced /ˈfɜːlɒŋ/.
Etymology
PIE word *dlongʰos From Middle English furlong, forlong (“unit of distance about one-eighth of a mile; quantity of land equal to one square furlong; racetrack for foot races; foot race”) [and other forms], from Old English furlang, furlung, from furh (“a furrow”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *perḱ- (“to dig; to open; to rip up”) + lang (“long”, adjective) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dlongʰos (“long”)), originally the typical length of a furrow in an average field.