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

Nearby, a swath of people dressed mostly in red, white and blue gathered in a circle, many holding American flags, for a small, intimate ceremony remembering the life of Charlie Kirk. —Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025

The celebratory reaction to Charlie's assassination across swaths of left-wing social media was also positively chilling. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

Tuesday's action caught large swaths of the administration wholly off-guard, sources familiar with the matter say. —Mariam Khan, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025

According to Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, the Pigeon River State Forest is the largest swath of contiguous undeveloped land in the state's Lower Peninsula. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 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