agriculture

noun

ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈa-gri-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products

cleared the land to use it for agriculture

agriculturist

ˌa-gri-ˈkəl-ch(ə-)rist 

noun

or agriculturalist

ˌa-gri-ˈkəl-ch(ə-)rə-list 

Synonyms

• farming

Examples of agriculture in a Sentence

They cleared the land to use it for agriculture.

the forest was cut down, and the land given over to agriculture

Recent Examples on the Web

Ford will host a Ford Pro Accelerate summit this fall at Ford’s Michigan Central Station in Detroit on how to strengthen construction, service and maintenance, agriculture, energy and skilled trades industries. —Breana Noble, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025

Especially affected are industries such as agriculture, construction and hospitality. —Paul Davidson, USA Today, 13 July 2025

Look at his account of agriculture and farming, which has altered more of the Earth’s surface than any other activity. —Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 12 July 2025

Minutes later, his agriculture secretary said there would be no amnesty. —Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 12 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin agricultura, from ager field + cultura cultivation — more at acre, culture

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing agriculture

• community-supported agriculture

Rhymes for agriculture

• apiculture
• aquaculture
• counterculture
• floriculture
• horticulture
• mariculture
• monoculture
• sericulture
• silviculture
• viticulture
• arboriculture
• culture

Kids Definition

agriculture

noun

ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈag-ri-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock : farming

agriculturist

ˌag-ri-ˈkəlch- (ə-)rəst 

noun

or agriculturalist

-(ə-)rə-ləst