What does swath mean?
Swath is a noun for a long, broad strip or a large expanse of something. Its oldest sense comes from farming: the swath is the line of cut grass or grain that falls behind a scythe or mower after a single pass, and by extension the width of ground cleared in that pass. From this concrete image the word grew into a general term for any wide band or sizeable portion, whether land, territory, or a segment of people. Writers often use it figuratively, speaking of a swath of voters, a swath of the economy, or a swath of destruction, and it usually implies breadth and scale rather than precision. In science and technology it also names the strip of Earth's surface observed by a satellite or other instrument in one pass. The word is neutral in tone, though it carries a vivid, sweeping quality that suits news reporting, geography and analysis. It is often spelled swathe, particularly in British usage, though that spelling also serves as a verb meaning to wrap, so context matters.
nounA long, broad strip or expanse of something, especially the strip of grass or grain cut by one pass of a scythe or mowing machine. By extension, a large section or proportion of a whole.
- A broad strip or expanse of land, territory or other area, or a large portion of a group or population.
- The row or strip of grass, grain or hay cut by a scythe or mower in one pass.
- The width of ground covered by a single pass of a mower or by a sensor or instrument, such as a satellite's observed strip.
"The storm cut a swath of destruction across the coastal towns, leaving little untouched."
"A wide swath of forest was cleared to make room for the new highway."
"The policy appeals to a broad swath of voters across the political spectrum."
The plural is usually swaths, pronounced /swɒðz/ or /swɒθs/ depending on the speaker. The spelling swathes is also common for the plural in British English.
"Swaths of farmland were flooded after the river burst its banks."
Originally a swath was the track of cut grass left by a single sweep of a scythe, so to 'cut a swath' once meant simply to mow a path.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does swath come from?
Swath comes from Middle English, descending from Old English swæth or swathu, meaning a track or trace. It has relatives in other West Germanic languages, such as Dutch zwad and German Schwad, which also refer to a row of cut grass. The sense of a strip cut by a scythe developed in the agricultural vocabulary of early English, and the broader figurative sense of a wide expanse emerged later.
Related word forms
How swath is actually used
Swath is a neutral to somewhat formal word, common in journalism, agriculture and science. In the figurative sense it often suggests scale or sweeping impact, as in damage or influence spreading over a large area. The spelling swathe is widely used as a variant of the noun, especially in British English.
Easily confused with swath
Swathe is mainly a verb meaning to wrap or bind in layers of cloth, though it is also an accepted variant spelling of the noun swath.
A swatch is a small sample piece of fabric or material, not a broad strip of land or territory.