rural

adjective

ru·​ral ˈru̇r(-ə)l 

ˈrər(-ə)l

: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture

rurality

ru̇-ˈra-lə-tē 

noun

rurally

ˈru̇r-ə-lē 

ˈrər-

adverb

Synonyms of rural

• pastoral
• country
• rustic
• bucolic

Examples of rural in a Sentence

She lives in a rural area.

grew up in a rural community where more than half the people were farmers

Recent Examples on the Web

Sections built in rural, remote areas have rarely generated much public outcry, in part because the regions are sparsely populated, and conservative ranchers have often supported the construction. —Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 28 Feb. 2026

The commission oversees spectrum auctions, broadband deployment subsidies, rural connectivity programs, and emergency communications infrastructure. —Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026

Sacramento County prosecutors said Hunter and the victim were in a relationship when Hunter left the man during a road trip through rural Nevada. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026

In many rural areas, there are none. —Jerry Gurwitz, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ruralis, from rur-, rus open land — more at room

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rural

• rural dean
• rural free delivery
• rural route

Rhymes for rural

• crural
• dural
• jural
• mural
• neural
• pleural
• plural
• extramural
• intramural
• intrapleural
• figural
• flexural

Kids Definition

rural

adjective

ru·​ral ˈru̇r-əl 

: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture