rural

1 of 2

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

rurality

2 of 2

noun

ru·​ral·​i·​ty ru̇ˈralətē 

plural -es

: ruralism : a rural place

Synonyms of rural

Adjective

• pastoral
• country
• rustic
• bucolic

Examples of rural in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Alford’s seat now encompasses Kansas City’s urban core, suburbs in Jackson County and a large swath of rural areas through southwest and central Missouri. — Jack Harvel july 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026

On the outskirts of the tiny rural community of Barnard, the road narrows to a gravel lane where an unassuming gate marks the entrance to Monsalvat Farm, one of Vermont’s great estates. — Mark David, Robb Report, 27 July 2026

Despite being raised in a musical family in rural Georgia, the 27-year-old spent most of her life struggling to find her voice, much less an audience. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2026

Instead, material that used to fertilize farms accumulated in urban streets, rivers and sewers, while rural soils grew steadily poorer with each harvest. — Edward D. Melillo, Fortune, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ruralis, from rur-, rus open land

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1611, 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
• sural
• extramural
• intramural
• intrapleural
• figural

Kids Definition

rural

adjective

ru·​ral ˈru̇r-əl 

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