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

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

From BBC

Her sanguine — and mischievously macabre — response belies the fact that the fire, coupled with the long years of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused an extended fallow period during which she completely stopped creating art.

From Los Angeles Times

A team of volunteers have started the major clean-up of the site to prepare the land for a fallow year in 2026.

From BBC

The festival is on the cusp of a fallow year - when the fields are given the chance to recover.

From BBC

It will also be last festival before the 2026 fallow year to let the fields recover.

From BBC