swath

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

swath

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈswät͟h  ˈswäth 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

variant of swathe entry 1

1

: a band used in swathing

2

: an enveloping medium

Examples of swath in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

The recent state budget set aside $100 million for the effort that was developed in response to the catastrophic wildfires that swept through swaths of Los Angeles in early 2025. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Its roster would come to encompass an unusually wide swath of heavy and experimental music, including Isis, Cave In, Botch, Converge, Neurosis, Pelican, Jesu, Torche, Boris, Sunn O))) and Merzbow, among many others. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 18 Sep. 2026

The museum tends to attract a broad swath of ages, from middle school on up to senior citizens—though school vacation periods do bring in a younger, elementary school–aged crowd, too. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026

That story, though compellingly told, disappears for whole swaths of the text. — Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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