rustic

1 of 3

adjective

rus·​tic ˈrə-stik 

variants or less commonly rustical

ˈrə-sti-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or suitable for the country : rural

rustic rolling farmland

2

a

: made of the rough limbs of trees

rustic furniture

b

: finished by rusticating

a rustic joint in masonry

3

a

: characteristic of or resembling country people

… depicted Arcadian landscapes with rustic figures …

—Philippa Lewis and Gillian Darley

This bucolic frame of mind has opened the door for a cuisine with rustic American roots …

—Richard Dunmire and Joan Griffiths

b

: lacking in social graces or polish

4

: appropriate to the country (as in plainness or sturdiness)

heavy rustic boots

rustically

ˈrə-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

rusticity

ˌrə-ˈsti-sə-tē 

noun

rustic

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: an inhabitant of a rural area

2

a

: an awkward coarse person

b

: an unsophisticated rural person

rusticity

3 of 3

noun (2)

rus·​tic·​i·​ty ˌrəˈstisətē 

-ətē, 

-i

plural -es

1

: a lack of ease or refinement : awkwardness of manner : gaucherie

any little rusticity of gait or pronunciation … was so quickly and completely lost

—Samuel Butler †1902

2

: gracelessness of language : failure to reveal polish or elegance

had the rusticity of the average freshman theme

3

: a lack of perception or knowledge : ignorance, stupidity

was ashamed of my own rusticity in that distinguished company

4

: the quality or state of being rustic

the rusticity of … country towns

—American Guide Series: Indiana

Synonyms of rustic

Adjective

• uncomfortable
• uneasy
• clumsy
• awkward
• wooden

Noun (1)

• peasant
• provincial
• hick
• bumpkin
• clown

Examples of rustic in a Sentence

Adjective

The inn has a rustic atmosphere.

rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind

Noun (1)

a rustic who was awed by the prices that city dwellers had to pay

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The walls had a nominal utility as fences for the dairy herd that was milked in the great white cow barn, but this was only ever a Gilded Age fantasy of the rustic idyll. — Matt Seaton, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026

Summer Lake Hot Springs is a standout, with its smattering of rustic but cozy casitas and indoor and outdoor mineral hot springs soaking pools. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026

Noun

Havelock Island is the main island of the archipelago, and has a rustic, Costa Rica-meets-Maldives feel. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026

Big Cedar Lodge Ridgedale, Missouri For a luxury-meets-rustic escape, head to Big Cedar Lodge overlooking Table Rock Lake. — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 6 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English rustik, from Latin rusticus, from rus open land — more at room

Noun (2)

Middle French rusticité, from Latin rusticus + Middle French -ité -ity

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rustic

1 of 2 adjective

rus·​tic ˈrəs-tik 

: of, relating to, or suitable for the country or country people : rural

rustically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

rusticity

ˌrəs-ˈtis-ət-ē 

noun

rustic

2 of 2 noun

: a person living or raised in the country