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 second horizontal swath, in the middle of the triangle, represents customized person-to-person inquiry. —Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2026

Powerful storms that whipped up tornadoes killed four people in southern Michigan, including a 12-year-old boy, and two people in eastern Oklahoma on Friday, reducing homes to rubble and leaving a swath of damage. —Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026

Tornado damages Tulsa homes, school campus The damage from the Friday, March 6, storms extended across wide swaths of eastern Oklahoma, including north Tulsa. —Richard Mize, Oklahoman, 7 Mar. 2026

The storm formed near Edwardsburg and moved over a 50-mile swath through Three Rivers and Union City, causing widespread damage according to local authorities and eyewitness accounts. —Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 7 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