agriculture

noun

ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈa-gri-ˌkəl-chər 

: 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

ˌa-gri-ˈkəl-ch(ə-)rist 

noun

or agriculturalist

ˌa-gri-ˈkəl-ch(ə-)rə-list 

Synonyms of agriculture

• farming

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

Supporters said the amendment would help support struggling agriculture businesses, pointing to food security as a national security issue. — Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

In a sign of the campaign's competitiveness, many of Iowa's prominent industry groups in agriculture and business declined to weigh in on the contest, endorsing in other contests but not the governor's race. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Potential impact to global food system Higher premiums are bad news for Ukraine’s vital agriculture exports, 90% of which transit the waterway. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

Afghans largely depend on agriculture, and recurring droughts have severely weakened food production. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin agricultura, from ager field + cultura cultivation — more at acre, culture entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing agriculture

• community-supported agriculture

Rhymes for agriculture

• apiculture
• aquaculture
• counterculture
• floriculture
• horticulture
• mariculture
• monoculture
• sericulture
• silviculture
• viticulture
• arboriculture
• culture

Kids Definition

agriculture

noun

ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈag-ri-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock : farming

agriculturist

ˌag-ri-ˈkəlch- (ə-)rəst 

noun

or agriculturalist

-(ə-)rə-ləst