What does meadow mean?
A meadow is an open area of grassland, often bounded by hedges, trees, fences, or other features of the countryside. It may be used to graze livestock or produce hay, but today the word is also associated with wildflowers, insects, birds, and the changing colors of rural landscapes. Meadow is especially common in British English, though it is equally well understood in American English. The word can describe a practical agricultural field, a patch of grass beside a river or path, or a broader stretch of open countryside. In writing, it often evokes tranquility and an older, less urbanized relationship with the land. Because of those associations, “meadow” is also used poetically for places that seem spacious, natural, and relatively untouched, even when the setting is not literally grassland.
nounA field of grassland, especially one used for grazing animals or growing hay. In modern usage, the word can also refer more generally to an open, grassy area.
- A field or area of grassland, especially one used for grazing livestock or growing hay.
- A naturally occurring or semi-natural open area covered chiefly with grasses and wildflowers.
"Wildflowers filled the meadow after the spring rains."
"Cows grazed in the meadow beyond the hedgerow."
"The meadow is especially colorful in June, when the wildflowers bloom."
The standard plural is formed by adding -s.
"Several meadows lie between the village and the river."
A meadow is more than a pretty field: historically, it was a working landscape shaped by grazing, haymaking, and the plants that grew between them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does meadow come from?
The English word meadow comes from Old English mǣdwe, a Germanic term for grassland or pasture. It developed from a wider family of related forms across Germanic languages, reflected in words such as Old Norse meðr, Dutch made, and German Matte. The modern sense has remained closely tied to fields covered with grass and used for grazing or haymaking, while later literary usage broadened the word to include more generally open, grassy countryside.
Related word forms
How meadow is actually used
The word is common in British and American English. In literary and poetic contexts, it can carry a nostalgic or idealized association with open countryside, quietness, and natural beauty.
Easily confused with meadow
A meadow is a grassy field, whereas a meadowlark is a songbird, including the western meadowlark and eastern meadowlark.