adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of marshy
First recorded in 1350–1400, marshy is from the Middle English word mershi. See marsh, -y 1
Explanation
Marshy things are squishy, wet, and soft, like a marsh or a bog. After three days of rain, your backyard just might be too marshy to set up the volleyball net. Any area of ground that's waterlogged is marshy, like the marshy shore of a river or the low-lying marshy patch in the neighborhood dog park. Unless there's a drought, swamps and bogs and wetlands are always marshy, and water-loving plants grow happily in these areas. This adjective comes from marsh, which has a Germanic root, mari, that means "sea."
Vocabulary lists containing marshy
"Be Prepared" by Vera Brosgol
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Legend of the Yakwawiak"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
It will occupy an area partly covered in a marshy oasis, or "vega," which acts as a natural sponge.
From Barron's • May 23, 2026
Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said a Romanian F-16 fired a missile and drone debris fell in a marshy area in central Estonia on Tuesday.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
After hearing a voice from the sky, Guglielmo settled in Malavalle, meaning "the bad valley," in the marshy Maremma region of Tuscany.
From Science Daily • Feb. 2, 2026
Not far from the school is a marshy wetland, where ducks, geese and migrating birds come to rest and relax, a smorgasbord for a pair of eagles and their young.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2025
I saw waterbirds too, different kinds, nesting in a marshy area on the island.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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.
