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.
Cristina LaRue covers agriculture for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Cristina Larue, Arkansas Online, 2 May 2025 The plant had last been spotted decades earlier, growing by a highway in the town of Corrigin in Western Australia’s wheat belt, where most land has been cleared for agriculture. Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025 May God bless you, and God bless America and God bless American agriculture. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025 The majority of the population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, according to the country’s statistics bureau. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 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 6 May. 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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