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
The U.S. has plentiful arable land, navigable rivers, large coastlines and access to two oceans.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 2026
Despite arable land making up just three percent of the territory, it is one of Argentina's main producers of olive oil, grapes, tomatoes and pistachios.
From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026
He now works full-time on the arable side of the farm owned by his father, Nick, who was the family's first international rugby player, and scrum-half for Leicester in the 1980s.
From BBC ● May 13, 2026
Competition for grazing land among tribes of herdsmen or for arable soil among farming communities?
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
