emotional support animal

noun

An animal used to provide emotional support to a person with a disability, often while traveling.

“Near-synonyms: companion animal, pet”

Similar
ESAcompanion animalpet
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Meanings

nounemotional support animal (plural emotional support animals)

plural emotional support animals

  1. An animal used to provide emotional support to a person with a disability, often while traveling.

    Near-synonyms: companion animal, pet

    2 more examples

    I took my dog with me on the plane, because the airline allowed emotional support animals.

    United Airlines turned away an emotional-support animal—a proud peacock—at a New Jersey airport this weekend, as airlines have been considering with new guidelines for service and comfort animals.

    2018 January 31, Daniella Silva, “Emotional support peacock denied flight by United Airlines”, in NBC News

    Synonyms: ESA, companion animal, pet

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn animal used to provide emotional support to a person with a disability, often while traveling.

Similar
ESAcompanion animalpet
Also see
companion animal
Cite this entry
APA

emotional support animal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emotional%20support%20animal

MLA

“emotional support animal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emotional%20support%20animal. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “emotional support animal,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/emotional%20support%20animal.

Source: emotional support animal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.