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

Hadi bookmarks this at the end, with a lilting shot of Lamia peering into the marshes. —Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 16 May 2025

Pack light but smart: Bring layers for the mountains, a swimsuit for the coast, and bug spray for the marshes. Eat local: Skip the chains. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2025

Kate Tully, a researcher from the University of Maryland, has found salt-tolerant plants in a patch of field bordering the farm, indicating the salt is coming in and trying to turn the farm into a marsh. —CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025

Florida's natural landscape includes bird-friendly sawgrass marshes, cypress forests, and seashore. Texas also has a diverse landscape, including the World Birding Center, a collection of nine parks and preserves in the Rio Grande Valley. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 May 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