rural

adjective

ru·​ral ˈru̇r(-ə)l How to pronounce rural (audio)
ˈrər(-ə)l
Synonyms of rural
: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture
rurality
ru̇-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce rural (audio)
noun
rurally
ˈru̇r-ə-lē How to pronounce rural (audio)
ˈrər-
adverb

Synonyms of rural

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Examples of rural in a Sentence

She lives in a rural area. grew up in a rural community where more than half the people were farmers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But from here, in Jacopo’s one-hectare garden, you are tucked away in a Tuscan rural idyll. — Zoë Dare Hall, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 Many came from rural residents worried about a loss of connection to the outside world during storms and disasters. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 Alfonso is trying to ride support from his father-in-law to win his old House seat in rural northern Wisconsin. — Scott Bauer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Sanchez, boosted by voters from Peru’s rural ​regions, led the race earlier in the count and also won votes cast within the country by a slim margin. — Reuters, NBC news, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rural

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ruralis, from rur-, rus open land — more at room

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rural was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing rural

Rhymes for rural

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Browse Nearby Words

rupturewort
rural
rural dean
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Cite this Entry

“Rural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rural. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rural

adjective
ru·​ral ˈru̇r-əl How to pronounce rural (audio)
: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture

More from Merriam-Webster on rural

Nglish: Translation of rural for Spanish Speakers

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