grassland

American  

[gras-land, grahs-] / ˈgræsˌlænd, ˈgrɑs- /

noun

• grasslands
  plural

1. an area, as a prairie, in which the natural vegetation consists largely of perennial grasses, characteristic of subhumid and semiarid climates.

2. land with grass growing on it, especially farmland used for grazing or pasture.

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grassland British  

/ ˈɡrɑːsˌlænd /

noun

1. land, such as a prairie, on which grass predominates

2. land reserved for natural grass pasture

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grassland Scientific  

/ grăs′lănd′ /

1. An area that is dominated by grass or grasslike vegetation. Moderately dry climatic conditions and seasonal disturbances, such as floods or fires, are generally conducive to the growth of grasses and prohibitive of that of trees and shrubs. Grasslands are found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions and typically occupy regions between forests and deserts.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• grasslands
  plural

Etymology

Origin of grassland

An Americanism dating back to 1675–85; grass + land

Explanation

A grassland is an ecosystem that's thickly covered in short plants. Grasslands are notable for being lush and green. An area of land that mostly grows grass is a grassland — although there are other plants typically mixed in among the grasses, like clover, flowers, and woody plants. In the U.S., tallgrass prairies once covered huge portions of the midwestern states and were an example of one type of grassland. Today, these ecosystems can still be found around the world in regions that receive significant rainfall.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grassland grasslands

Meanwhile, the Essex Wildlife Trust says the surrounding grassland and woodland has become home to 687 invertebrate and 439 plant species.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

That comes weeks after another grass fire near Heathrow's southern runway which forced 18 flights to divert and destroyed a large area of grassland.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

The results call into question the common assumption that restoring species-rich grassland necessarily requires commercial seed mixes or other expensive measures.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

The iconic tule elk, some of which were fenced in on the northern part of the peninsula to keep them from competing for grassland with cows, were dying off.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

“For the next few weeks, we’re going to be in open grassland with no guaranteed access to any substantial amount of water.”

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

But the western blacklegged tick, known as the deer tick in most of the country, is common in the state’s chaparral, grasslands and woods, and can transmit Lyme disease, babesiosis and other pathogens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

The urban-wildland interface — where human development intermingles with wild places such as scrublands, grasslands and forests — is the fastest-growing land-use type in the United States.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Eastern Japanese toads are typically found in forests, grasslands and other terrestrial habitats across eastern Japan, but they have also proved remarkably adaptable to urban environments.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Species-rich grasslands offer important habitat for pollinating insects, birds and mammals.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

Few seem to have asked whether grasslands are a stable and desirable goal in this region.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• pasture
• plain
• prairie
• savanna
• steppe