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

• bucolic
• country
• pastoral
• rustic
• rustical

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

And, even in a Western, rural area, your property would need to be infested with wild rodents carrying the virus. —Julia Ries, Health, 26 Apr. 2025

Democrats have conceded that rural voters feel abandoned by the stereotype that Democrats only care about the coastal elites. —Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2025

The series is set in rural Texas and dives into the lives of small-town residents. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Republicans’ strongest support comes from White evangelical Christians (66%), White men without a degree (54%), and rural voters (50%). —Victoria Balara, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025

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