rural

adjective

ru·​ral ˈru̇r(-ə)l 

ˈrər(-ə)l

: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture

rurality

ru̇-ˈra-lə-tē 

noun

rurally

ˈru̇r-ə-lē 

ˈrər-

adverb

Synonyms of rural

• pastoral
• country
• rustic
• bucolic

Examples of rural in a Sentence

She lives in a rural area.

grew up in a rural community where more than half the people were farmers

Recent Examples on the Web

Advocate also is exploring expansion opportunities in rural Georgia to bridge gaps in health care access. —Chase Jordan march 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026

Kiarostami had made films mostly with nonprofessional actors, often about rural people of modest means. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026

From Steamboat’s sales surge to Durango’s rural boom, pockets of strength remain. —Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office has released more details into Sunday’s fiery car crash in rural Platte County that left one Park Hill High School senior dead. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ruralis, from rur-, rus open land — more at room

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rural

• rural dean
• rural free delivery
• rural route

Rhymes for rural

• crural
• dural
• jural
• mural
• neural
• pleural
• plural
• extramural
• intramural
• intrapleural
• figural
• flexural

Kids Definition

rural

adjective

ru·​ral ˈru̇r-əl 

: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture