fallow

¹

[fal-oh]

adjective

1. (of land) plowed and left unseeded for a season or more; uncultivated.

2. not in use; inactive.

   My creative energies have lain fallow this year.

noun

1. land that has undergone plowing and harrowing and has been left unseeded for one or more growing seasons.

verb (used with object)

1. to make (land) fallow for agricultural purposes.

fallow

²

[fal-oh]

adjective

1. pale-yellow; light-brown; dun.

fallow

¹

/ ˈfæləʊ /

adjective

1. (of land) left unseeded after being ploughed and harrowed to regain fertility for a crop

2. (of an idea, state of mind, etc) undeveloped or inactive, but potentially useful

noun

1. land treated in this way

verb

1. (tr) to leave (land) unseeded after ploughing and harrowing it

fallow

²

/ ˈfæləʊ /

adjective

1. of a light yellowish-brown colour

Other Word Forms

• fallowness noun
• unfallowed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fallow¹

1275–1325; Middle English falwe; compare Old English fealga, plural of *fealh, as gloss of Medieval Latin occas harrows

Origin of fallow²

before 1000; Middle English fal ( o ) we, Old English fealu; cognate with German falb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fallow¹

Old English fealga ; related to Greek polos ploughed field

Origin of fallow²

Old English fealu ; related to Old Norse fölr, Old Saxon, Old High German falo , Latin pallidus Greek polios grey

Example Sentences

As part of the water-saving efforts, farmers in California’s Imperial Valley are temporarily leaving some hay fields parched and fallow in exchange for cash payments.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Over 40% of available farmland has remained fallow because of the lack of profitable alternatives, limited agricultural outputs and, adverse climate conditions it added.

Read more on BBC

In 1985, Ralenkotter was part of a group responsible for luring the National Finals Rodeo to the city, bringing in tourists during the annual fallow period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The sight of browning, fallow land where prized wine grapes were grown has become more frequent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Organisers previously said 2026 would be a fallow year at Worthy Farm to enable the land to recover and the natural environment to regenerate.

Read more on BBC