swath

noun

ˈswäth 

ˈswȯth

variants or swathe

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h,

ˈswāt͟h 

1

a

: a row of cut grain or grass left by a scythe or mowing machine

b

: the sweep of a scythe or a machine in mowing or the path cut in one course

2

: a long broad strip or belt

3

: a stroke of or as if of a scythe

4

: a space devastated as if by a scythe

Examples of swath in a Sentence

An aerial view of the countryside shows wide swathes of green.

He cut a swath through the field with his scythe.

Recent Examples on the Web

Freeze warnings and frost advisories were active across a vast swath of the central and eastern United States, with temperatures dipping into the low 20s in some areas, forecasters said. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025

As a public health care district formed in 1984 to serve inland North County and a broad swath of eastern San Diego County, Palomar, like all public agencies, customarily publishes the text of its resolutions before its meetings to allow time for public review. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025

Patterson was elected to the EBMUD Board of Directors in 1997, representing swaths of Oakland in Ward 6 for 27 years until his retirement in 2024. —Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025

To him, this is a dispute over how large swaths of Appalachia can be revitalized. —David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English swæth footstep, trace; akin to Middle High German swade swath

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for swath

• broth
• cloth
• doth
• froth
• goth
• loth
• moth
• wroth
• broadcloth
• cheesecloth
• loincloth
• neckcloth

Kids Definition

swath

noun

ˈswäth 

ˈswȯth

variants or swathe

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h,

ˈswāt͟h

1

a

: the sweep of a scythe or machine in mowing or the path cut in one course

b

: a row of cut grain or grass

2

: a long broad strip or belt

3

: a space destroyed as if by a mowing machine