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

That’s on top of the growing demand for land from AI hyperscalers, who are looking for large swaths of earth, including farms. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026

With insane gas prices in places like California this year, a Volt, or something like it, appeals to a significant swath of the American green-car-buying public. — Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Trade talks with Canada collapsed late Friday night, setting in motion steep 50% tariffs on a wide swath of Canadian goods. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2026

The community encompasses a large swath of land in West Boca, framed to the south by Palmetto Park Road and to the east by Boca Rio Road. — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 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