agriculture

noun

ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈa-gri-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce agriculture (audio)
: 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 noun

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
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.
In the decades since, the technology has diffused into daily life — powering smartphones, ride-hailing apps, agriculture, stock exchanges, and the precise time-stamping of financial trades. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025 To encourage the use of Wi-Fi HaLow in environmental applications, the best way forward is to highlight the results of field trials in smart cities, agriculture and industrial settings, like those profiled by the Wireless Broadband Alliance. Michael De Nil, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 With its focus on agriculture, the series replaces EatDenver’s longtime fall fundraiser, Harvest Week, and features 24 chefs and restaurants preparing collaborative, five-course menus. Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025 Despite Chakwera’s promises to bring down the cost of farming and restart Malawi’s agriculture-dependent economy, ahead of taking office in 2020, his tenure has been marked by skyrocketing prices of fertilizer and maize, a staple food. Charles Pensulo, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for agriculture

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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Agriculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agriculture. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

agriculture

noun
ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈag-ri-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce agriculture (audio)
: the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock : farming
agriculturist noun
or agriculturalist

More from Merriam-Webster on agriculture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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