plantation

noun

plan·​ta·​tion plan-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce plantation (audio)
1
: a usually large group of plants and especially trees under cultivation
2
: a settlement in a new country or region
Plymouth Plantation
3
a
: a place that is planted or under cultivation
b
: an agricultural estate usually worked by resident labor

Examples of plantation in a Sentence

the struggling plantation almost failed during the first winter
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once in Mississippi, Wong met Emma Clay, a Black woman born in 1865 on a plantation. Erika Hayasaki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2025 It was built in the 1930s as part of a plantation, and the house itself was initially one large room built for the mango pickers, who were likely Bahamian or Mexican. Dinkinish O’Connor, Saveur, 8 May 2025 The original owner was Frederick Stanton, an Irish immigrant who became a prominent cotton planter with five plantations in Louisiana. Amy Bentley, Oc Register, 7 May 2025 The story is rooted in chilling and realistic descriptions of slavery on a Georgia plantation, but here the famed path to freedom is a literal underground railroad. Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plantation

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plantation was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plantation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plantation. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

plantation

noun
plan·​ta·​tion plan-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce plantation (audio)
1
: a group of plants and especially trees planted and cared for
2
: a settlement in a new country or region : colony
3
: a planted area
especially : an agricultural estate worked by laborers

Geographical Definition

Plantation

geographical name

city in southeastern Florida west of Fort Lauderdale population 84,955

More from Merriam-Webster on plantation

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