grassland

American  

[gras-land, grahs-] / ˈgræsˌlænd, ˈgrɑs- /

noun

• grasslands
  plural

1. an area, as a prairie, in which the natural vegetation consists largely of perennial grasses, characteristic of subhumid and semiarid climates.

2. land with grass growing on it, especially farmland used for grazing or pasture.

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grassland British  

/ ˈɡrɑːsˌlænd /

noun

1. land, such as a prairie, on which grass predominates

2. land reserved for natural grass pasture

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grassland Scientific  

/ grăs′lănd′ /

1. An area that is dominated by grass or grasslike vegetation. Moderately dry climatic conditions and seasonal disturbances, such as floods or fires, are generally conducive to the growth of grasses and prohibitive of that of trees and shrubs. Grasslands are found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions and typically occupy regions between forests and deserts.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• grasslands
  plural

Etymology

Origin of grassland

An Americanism dating back to 1675–85; grass + land

Explanation

A grassland is an ecosystem that's thickly covered in short plants. Grasslands are notable for being lush and green. An area of land that mostly grows grass is a grassland — although there are other plants typically mixed in among the grasses, like clover, flowers, and woody plants. In the U.S., tallgrass prairies once covered huge portions of the midwestern states and were an example of one type of grassland. Today, these ecosystems can still be found around the world in regions that receive significant rainfall.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grassland grasslands

The biggest changes are visible across Conwy, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Merseyside, where areas that were previously a patchwork of green fields and grassland are now covered by light brown tones, indicating extensive vegetation stress.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

"In the surrounding chalk grassland, they can discover how plants and insects cope with extreme heat, and why shade, varied vegetation and connected habitats can provide vital refuges for wildlife."

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

However, much of the research supporting their value comes from cropland and grassland systems in Europe and North America.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 22, 2026

At the same time, they substantially reduced both the abundance of grassland birds and the diversity of wetland species that depend on large, open areas.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 22, 2026

Shasta, who had lived all his life in an almost tree-less grassland, had never seen so many or so many kinds.

From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis

An unusually wet winter encouraged dense plant growth across grasslands, shrublands, and forest understories.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026

Its landscapes include grasslands, lagoons, heathland and vegetated shingle, which supports a range of creatures, flora and fauna - not just birds.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

"The dense forest disappears and becomes more open woodland, with more lakes and more grasslands."

From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026

Many of Brazil’s estimated 1.2 million capybaras have migrated from their natural habitats, forests and grasslands along rivers and lakes, to cities.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

It had a fiery mountain with green rain forest on the high slopes and grasslands at the bottom.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

• pasture
• plain
• prairie
• savanna
• steppe