marsh

noun

ˈmärsh 

often attributive

: a tract of soft wet land usually characterized by monocotyledons (such as grasses or cattails)

Synonyms of marsh

• wetland
• swamp

Examples of marsh in a Sentence

a wide expanse of marsh

the marshes along the coast support a remarkable profusion of plants and animals

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s also mix of vegetation and freshwater marshes near the beating heart of the city. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026

Much of Corona, Flushing, Elmhurst, and East Elmhurst were built on low-lying marshes and meadows along the once four-mile-long Flushing River. — Len Maniace, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts The marshes and scenic shorelines of Cape Cod offer more than a summer hangout. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026

During this time, bogs, marshes, and other wetlands, historically seen as disease-ridden and deleterious to human health, were reevaluated by scientists and conservationists as valuable wildlife habitats. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mersh, from Old English merisc, mersc; akin to Middle Dutch mersch marsh, Old English mere sea, pool — more at marine

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing marsh

• marsh elder
• marsh gas
• marsh hawk
• marsh hen
• marsh mallow
• marsh marigold
• marsh pink
• salt marsh

Rhymes for marsh

• harsh

Kids Definition

marsh

noun

ˈmärsh 

: an area of soft wet land usually overgrown by grasses and sedges

marshy

ˈmär-shē

adjective

Biographical Definition

Marsh

biographical name

ˈmärsh 

Dame (Edith) Ngaio ˈnī-(ˌ)ō  1899–1982 New Zealand writer