prairie

noun

prai·​rie ˈprer-ē How to pronounce prairie (audio)
Synonyms of prairienext
often attributive
1
: land in or predominantly in grass
2
: a tract of grassland: such as
a
: a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usually has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees
b
: one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil

Examples of prairie in a Sentence

Millions of buffalo once roamed the prairies. The train tracks extend over miles of prairie.
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.
This transition from grassland prairie to mountains stretches from southeast to northwest Wyoming. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 June 2026 In addition to the tension with the Native Americans, the Ingalls face fever, wolves and a prairie fire to name a few events teased in the clip. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 June 2026 The park itself is an enchanting mystery, sudden spires broken through the prairie along state lines and creating what was once known by Native Americans as Spirit Canyon. Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026 Western and prairie massasaugas Western massasaugas are found primarily in central and southern Kansas in open and grassy areas, but can reach into eastern Kansas. Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for prairie

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French praierie, from Vulgar Latin *prataria, from Latin pratum meadow

First Known Use

circa 1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prairie was circa 1682

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prairie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prairie. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

prairie

noun
prai·​rie ˈpre(ə)r-ē How to pronounce prairie (audio)
: a large area of level or rolling grassland

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