swath

noun

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

Examples of swath in a Sentence

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

He cut a swath through the field with his scythe.

Recent Examples on the Web

The assembly puts candidates in front of swaths of some of the most dedicated Democrats in the state to make their case, one five-minute speech at a time. —Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026

Over the past couple of decades, as Silicon Valley’s tech boom drove up the cost of living, tens of thousands of people flocked to this 1,400-square-mile swath of the Central Valley. —Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026

Facing cameras and a swath of media in her tiny hometown, Long Rife was not frightened by the prospect of moving cross-country. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026

The displaced here have fled the drought that has ravaged swaths of this Horn of Africa nation after four failed rain seasons. —ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

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