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

For outdoor adventurers, nearby Myakka River State Park delivers with a canopy walkway through pineland, prairie, and wetlands. — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 23 June 2026

Now, each year, the vineyard brings in roughly 120 to 130 sheep, which rotate through the property’s oak habitat and upland prairie habitat over the course of a few months. — Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Pack a picnic, read the historical marker, and watch 25 acres of native prairie grasses sway. — Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026

Other favorites include the prairie habitat of Bobolink Meadow at the eastern edge of Jackson Park lagoon, and the collection of cherry blossom trees ringing the Columbian Basin. — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 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