greenfield

¹ American  

[green-feeld] / ˈgrinˌfild /

noun

1. an undeveloped or agricultural tract of land that is a potential site for industrial or urban development.

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Greenfield ² American  

[green-feeld] / ˈgrinˌfild /

noun

1. a city in SE Wisconsin, near Milwaukee.

2. a city in NW Massachusetts.

3. a town in central Indiana.

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greenfield British  

/ ˈɡriːnˌfiːld /

noun

1. (modifier) denoting or located in a rural area which has not previously been built on

   new factories were erected on greenfield sites

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greenfield Scientific  

/ grēn′fēld /

1. A piece of usually semirural property that is undeveloped except for agricultural use, especially one considered as a site for expanding urban development.

2. Compare brownfield

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Etymology

Origin of greenfield

First recorded in 1940–45 as an adjective; current sense dates from 2000–05; green ( def. ) + field ( def. )

Example Sentences

South Korean conglomerate HD Hyundai plans to dramatically increase India’s domestic ship building capacity with a port expansion and greenfield port development in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India’s hub for export-oriented automotive industries.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

He added that the company is investing in ways to keep up supply, including in greenfield capacity that is expected to come online starting in the middle of next year.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

The miner said it would expand and diversify its organic growth pipeline and was targeting the discovery of two to three greenfield projects.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

He shifted the bank's traditional New Town headquarters to a greenfield site at Gogarburn near Edinburgh Airport which housed 3,000 staff, tennis courts, a medical centre and a corporate jet.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

But does anyone really believe that it would be less disruptive, less controversial, more convenient and more cost-effective to develop a greenfield site deep in the outback?

From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2023