swath

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈswäth 

ˈswȯth

variants or swathe

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

1

a

: a row of cut grain or grass left by a scythe or mowing machine

b

: the sweep of a scythe or a machine in mowing or the path cut in one course

2

: a long broad strip or belt

3

: a stroke of or as if of a scythe

4

: a space devastated as if by a scythe

swathe

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

variants or swath

ˈswät͟h  ˈswäth 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

1

: a band used in swathing

2

: an enveloping medium

swathe

3 of 3

verb

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

swathed; swathing

transitive verb

1

: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage

2

: envelop

a mountain swathed by clouds

Synonyms of swath

Verb

• wrap
• shroud
• envelop
• enclose
• bosom

Examples of swath in a Sentence

Noun (1)

An aerial view of the countryside shows wide swathes of green.

He cut a swath through the field with his scythe.

Verb

The nurse swathed the wounded soldier's leg in bandages.

Her neck was swathed in jewels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Illinois breaks all-time tornado record The Windy City's home state likewise broke all previous annual tornado records by mid-June following a swath of severe storms June 17. — Hannah Hudnall, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Wall Street was looking to Micron for reassurance — something the company delivered — and the upbeat outlook is poised to lift a broad swath of stocks. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 June 2026

Verb

No place personifies this quirky little beach town better than The Red Bar, a bohemian hangout swathed in scarlet lights that’s known for its crab cakes and in-house jazz band. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 21 June 2026

Seven different looks rotate throughout the World Cup season, each one conceived by designer Ricardo Zuccolini, with Diana Dubinsky and her team at Wynwood studio’s DesignLab22 swathing the sea nymphs in capes inspired by FIFA teams’ country colors. — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English swæth footstep, trace; akin to Middle High German swade swath

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English *swæth; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

Verb

Middle English, from Old English swathian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for swath

• broth
• cloth
• doth
• froth
• goth
• loth
• moth
• wroth
• broadcloth
• cheesecloth
• loincloth
• neckcloth

Kids Definition

swath

noun

ˈswäth 

ˈswȯth

variants or swathe

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h

1

a

: the sweep of a scythe or machine in mowing or the path cut in one course

b

: a row of cut grain or grass

2

: a long broad strip or belt

3

: a space destroyed as if by a mowing machine