What does divot mean?
A divot is a small piece of turf or earth that has been cut out of the ground, most famously by the head of a golf club as it strikes down through the grass during a shot. The word belongs firmly to the language of golf, where replacing one's divots — pressing the displaced turf back into its hole — is a basic courtesy expected of every player, and courses often provide sand-and-seed mixtures for filling them in. Beyond golf, the term can describe any small chunk of sod torn from grassy ground, whether by animals, machinery, or weather. The noun is concrete and unremarkable in tone, but it carries a strong connotation of both damage and repair: a divot marks where the ground was disturbed, and the act of tending it reflects care for shared spaces. Its origin lies in Scots, which gives it a distinctly northern British pedigree despite its now worldwide sporting use.
nounA small piece of turf or earth cut out of the ground, especially by a golf club striking the turf during a swing. More generally, any small chunk of sod displaced from grassy ground.
- A piece of turf or sod dislodged from the ground, most often by a golf club.
- Any similar small patch of earth or grass torn up from a surface.
"The golfer replaced each divot carefully before moving on to the next hole."
"He took a deep divot with his iron shot on the long par four."
"Cattle had left the field littered with divots after the wet winter."
Standard regular plural; used freely when referring to multiple pieces of displaced turf.
"The practice range was scarred with thousands of divots by midsummer."
Every proper golfer carries a tiny tool whose sole job is repairing the divots they themselves create — etiquette demands you undo your own damage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of divot
Divot comes from Scots, the variety of English historically spoken in Scotland, where it has been recorded since at least the 16th century in reference to pieces of cut turf used for roofing and fuel. The word likely derives from an earlier Scots form such as 'devat' or 'divot' denoting a slice of sod. It entered wider English chiefly through golf, a game codified in Scotland, which explains why it remains most at home on the course.
How divot is actually used
The word is strongly associated with golf and is standard vocabulary among players; outside that context it may read as slightly technical. 'Replace your divots' is a familiar instruction on golf courses, meaning to press the torn-up turf back into place.
Easily confused with divot
A pivot is a central point on which something turns, whereas a divot is a piece of turf cut from the ground.