petting zoo

American

noun

a zoo, or a special part of a larger zoo, where children may hold and stroke and sometimes feed small or young animals.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“What do you want to do first? Ferris wheel? Tilt-A-Whirl? Jack Rabbit? Tractor pull? Petting zoo? Or we could get funnel cakes,” she said in a breathless whoosh.

From Literature

All the pumpkin patch trimmings from October have been put away — the petting zoo, towering inflatable slides, Cyglos and other rides — and now the family is setting up Christmas decor and stands for the trees that will soon be delivered.

From Los Angeles Times

For Ostrovsky, the man who had left his wife and two daughters to get food, everything seemed to be fine when they arrived a little after 5.30 p.m. and saw bubbles and a petting zoo.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 2023, the Oregon festival introduced a “Bacterial Petting Zoo” to teach children and newbies about the different types of microorganisms responsible for fermentation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Kids and selfie seekers will enjoy the Pioneertown Petting Zoo where $10 will buy you 20 minutes with chickens, turkeys and a small horse.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023