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Definition of donkey
donkey
/ˈdɒŋ.ki/
don · key
Plural:donkeys
donkey Lexical Profile
CEFR
A2
Grade
2
Tier
1
Usage
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Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A domesticated hoofed mammal of the horse family with long ears and a braying call, widely used as a beast of burden.
Example
"The farmer used a sturdy donkey to carry heavy sacks of grain up the steep mountain path."
2
A foolish, stupid, or obstinate person.
Example
"He realized he was acting like a donkey when he stubbornly refused to accept any advice from his experienced colleagues."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for donkey Antonyms
View all antonyms for donkey• Rhymes for donkey
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 18th century: perhaps from 'dun' (referring to the animal's typical brownish-grey color) combined with the diminutive suffix '-key', or possibly a familiar diminutive form of the given name Duncan.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Donkey. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/donkey