marsh

noun

ˈmärsh 

often attributive

: a tract of soft wet land usually characterized by monocotyledons (such as grasses or cattails)

Synonyms

• bog
• fen
• marshland
• mire
• moor
• morass
• muskeg
• slough
• slew
• slue
• swamp
• swampland
• wash
• wetland

Examples of marsh in a Sentence

a wide expanse of marsh

the marshes along the coast support a remarkable profusion of plants and animals

Recent Examples on the Web

Duxbury, Massachusetts — Jeff Ladd grew up fishing the marshes of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with his father and grandfather. —Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2025

The changes led to seagrass die-offs and widespread invasion of sawgrass marshes by cattail and harmful algal blooms. —John Kominoski, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2025

Then came the Kankakee Valley Improvement Co., which proposed to drain the marsh using a government assessment on property along the route. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025

Emerald Isle, North Carolina, confesses its obvious charms—brilliant blue-green waters, a verdant maritime forest, and lush marshes—in its name. —Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mersh, from Old English merisc, mersc; akin to Middle Dutch mersch marsh, Old English mere sea, pool — more at marine

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing marsh

• marsh elder
• marsh gas
• marsh hawk
• marsh hen
• marsh mallow
• marsh marigold
• marsh pink
• salt marsh

Rhymes for marsh

• harsh

Kids Definition

marsh

noun

ˈmärsh 

: an area of soft wet land usually overgrown by grasses and sedges

marshy

ˈmär-shē

adjective

Biographical Definition

Marsh

biographical name

ˈmärsh 

Dame (Edith) Ngaio ˈnī-(ˌ)ō  1899–1982 New Zealand writer