arable
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
(of land) being or capable of being tilled for the production of crops
-
of, relating to, or using such land
arable farming
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of arable
1375–1425; < Latin arābilis, equivalent to arā ( re ) to plow + -bilis -ble; replacing late Middle English erable, equivalent to er ( en ) to plow ( Old English erian ) + -able -able
Explanation
If you describe land as arable, it means that something can grow there. If you're looking to raise crops, you better find yourself a patch of arable land. Arable has its Latin roots in the word arare, which means "to plow." Arable soil is ground that can be plowed and cultivated. Chances are — if you are using the word arable, then either the word land or the word soil is following it; however, you might also see the phrase "arable crops" — meaning those crops that are able to be grown on arable land.
Vocabulary lists containing arable
Power Suffix: -able
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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.
Within 10-15 years, the former arable field had developed into a species-rich wildflower meadow.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
Areas in the region with some 9,110 square kilometres of arable land are being targeted, with estimated economic benefits of around $75 million a year through better harvests.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Local arable, beef, and poultry farmer Rob Evans is part of the Walcot Farm Partnership alongside his wife Lucy and son Will.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
The U.S. has plentiful arable land, navigable rivers, large coastlines and access to two oceans.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 2026
With long winters and high mountains, the country lacks arable land, denies incentives to farmers, and cannot afford fuel or modern farm equipment.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
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.
