swath

1 of 5

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

swath

2 of 5

noun (2)

ˈswät͟h  ˈswäth 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

variant of swathe entry 1

1

: a band used in swathing

2

: an enveloping medium

swathe

3 of 5

noun (3)

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

variants or swath

ˈswät͟h  ˈswäth 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

1

: a band used in swathing

2

: an enveloping medium

swathe

4 of 5

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

swathe

5 of 5

noun (4)

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

variant of swath

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

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

Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the ACLU, says a wide swath of people across the political spectrum opposes Flock cameras. — Meg Anderson, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026

Israel invaded Lebanon and has since occupied a large swath of its south. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Verb

Gap even takes things up a notch by swathing certain Five-Pocket selections in vegan suede and multiple shades of canvas — effectively nodding to its other beloved bottoms options. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026

For weeks both of his arms and hands were swathed in casts and bandages, and his head and body were covered with massive bruises. — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (3)

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 (3)

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