What does lawn mean?
A lawn is an area of ground covered with grass, usually one that is regularly mowed to keep it short, level, and attractive. Lawns are common in gardens, parks, hotel grounds, and other maintained public or private spaces, and they can serve for recreation, relaxation, decoration, or children's play. The word often conveys an image of order, care, and relative tidiness rather than simply any patch of grass. It may refer either to the entire area or, in informal use, to its grass-covered surface, as in a phrase such as "lying on the lawn." Although lawns occur throughout the English-speaking world, their extent and prominence vary with climate, land use, and local traditions. The term is also used figuratively for public access or behavior, as in discussions of public lawns and restrictions on their use.
nounAn area of ground covered with grass, especially one kept short by mowing in a garden, park, or public space.
- An area of ground covered with grass, especially one kept short by mowing.
- An open, grass-covered area in a park or other public setting.
"She sat on the lawn while the children played cricket nearby."
"The house overlooks a wide lawn bordered by mature trees."
"Picnics are permitted on the lawn after 6 p.m."
The standard plural is lawns, used for separate grass-covered areas or distinct maintained spaces.
"The hotel has two lawns overlooking the sea."
A lawn began as simply an open space; over time, the word became almost inseparable from the image of grass kept short and neatly mown.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lawn come from?
The word entered Middle English in the forms lawn and laune, borrowed from Anglo-French and Old French laune, meaning an open space or clearing. Early English usage could refer more generally to open ground. Over time, the sense narrowed to an area covered with grass, especially one kept short and maintained. Its development reflects the familiar modern contrast between an open space and a deliberately cultivated lawn.
Related word forms
How lawn is actually used
The word is especially associated with grass that is regularly mowed and maintained. It is also used in formal notices and public-space designations, such as "no dogs on the lawn."