rustic

1 of 2

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 2

noun

1

: an inhabitant of a rural area

2

a

: an awkward coarse person

b

: an unsophisticated rural person

Synonyms of rustic

Adjective

• uncomfortable
• uneasy
• clumsy
• awkward
• wooden

Noun

• 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

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There's a rustic elegance to everything there. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025

And on Vis, Konoba Jastožera, a rustic over-the-water spot, serves lobster caught right at your table. —Lucija Boras, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025

Noun

Keep the gravy rustic and serve it as is, or go smooth and blend until creamy. —CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

The result is a first-of-its-kind destination for this college town—rustic yet refined, familiar yet transportive. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1550, 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