prairie

noun

prai·​rie ˈprer-ē 

often attributive

1

: land in or predominantly in grass

2

: a tract of grassland: such as

a

: a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usually has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees

b

: one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil

Synonyms of prairie

• steppe
• plain
• grassland
• savanna
• pampa
• meadow
• veld

Examples of prairie in a Sentence

Millions of buffalo once roamed the prairies.

The train tracks extend over miles of prairie.

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the prairie there would be lightning that evening, dropping in shattering bolts from swollen purple clouds. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

The 30th anniversary open house includes interpretive stations at locations around the prairie, with attendees invited to bike, drive or hike from each trailhead to learn about the bison project, prairie restoration and how grazing and agriculture help restoration efforts. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026

Towering buttes shoot out of waving prairie grasses. —Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 1 June 2026

Brown, tan, beige, and terra-cotta mimic the desert and prairie landscapes. —Elle Turner, Glamour, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French praierie, from Vulgar Latin *prataria, from Latin pratum meadow

First Known Use

circa 1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prairie

• prairie chicken
• prairie dog
• prairie schooner
• prairie soil
• prairie wolf
• short-grass prairie
• tallgrass prairie

Rhymes for prairie

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

Kids Definition

prairie

noun

prai·​rie ˈpre(ə)r-ē 

: a large area of level or rolling grassland