swath

American  

[swoth, swawth] / swɒθ, swɔθ /

noun

1. the space covered by the stroke of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine.

2. the piece or strip so cut.

3. a line or ridge of grass, grain, or the like, cut and thrown together by a scythe or mowing machine.

4. a strip, belt, or long and relatively narrow extent of anything.

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idioms

1. cut a swath, to make a pretentious display; attract notice.

   The new doctor cut a swath in the small community.

swath British  

/ sweɪð, swɔːθ /

noun

1. the width of one sweep of a scythe or of the blade of a mowing machine

2. the strip cut by either of these in one course

3. the quantity of cut grass, hay, or similar crop left in one course of such mowing

4. a long narrow strip or belt

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swath More Idioms  

1. see cut a wide swath.

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Etymology

Origin of swath

before 900; Middle English; Old English swæth footprint; cognate with German Shwade

Example Sentences

Even before the currency change, Trump’s name and image had already spread across a wide swath of government spaces and programs.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

To unleash sterile male mosquitoes in a broader swath of the Greater L.A. district, officials are seeking up to $20 a year per single family home.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

A broad swath of consumers across incomes reported declines in expectations for their personal finances.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026

That’s hammering the shares of software, financials-services, and media design companies as investors see AI technologies upending a broad swath of industries over the coming years.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

He was bent over a table, working on some kind of long metal patchwork—like a swath of chain mail.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• fodder
• grass