lawn
1 Americannoun
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a stretch of open, grass-covered land, especially one closely mowed, as near a house, on an estate, or in a park.
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Archaic. a glade.
noun
noun
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a flat and usually level area of mown and cultivated grass
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an archaic or dialect word for glade
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of lawn1
1250–1300; Middle English launde < Middle French lande glade < Celtic; compare Breton lann heath. See land
Origin of lawn2
1375–1425; late Middle English lawnd, laun, perhaps named after Laon, where linen-making once flourished
Explanation
A lawn is an area of ground that's planted with grass. Your next-door neighbor might be so overly proud of his tidy lawn that he stands on it, glaring at the dandelions growing in yours. Most lawns are neatly mowed — a lawn that's allowed to grow tall might more accurately be called a field, especially if there are weeds or wildflowers mixed in with the grass. It's difficult to grow a lawn in places that don't get much rain, since it needs to be watered regularly to stay green and lush. Lawn was laune in the 1500s, meaning "open space between the woods," from the Old French lande, "heath, moor, or clearing."
Vocabulary lists containing lawn
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He lived in a 4,100-square-foot brick home surrounded by a manicured lawn, with gold-framed photos from his recent wedding in the entryway.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Dame Mary also said her two spaniels had been trained to stay off the lawn and flower beds.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
A sizable firepit in the yard itself looks tailor-made for family game nights or s’mores sessions, and is surrounded by a lush green lawn and elegant landscaping.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
Since taking office, Trump has also paved over the Rose Garden lawn at the White House and plastered the Oval Office with gold decorations.
From Barron's • May 11, 2026
I rush down the steps and hurry out onto the lawn, scanning the darkness for the pencil of a figure that is my brother.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
