rural

[roor-uhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the country, country life, or country people; rustic.

   agricultural fairs and festivals throughout the rural towns of Georgia.

   Synonyms: rough, unsophisticated
   Antonyms: urban

2. living in the country.

   the rural population.

3. of or relating to agriculture.

   rural economy.

noun

1. a person who lives in a rural area.

rural

/ ˈrʊərəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the country or country life

2. living in or accustomed to the country

3. of, relating to, or associated with farming

Other Word Forms

• ruralism noun
• rurally adverb
• ruralist noun
• rurality noun
• ruralite noun
• ruralness noun
• nonrural adjective
• nonrurally adverb
• quasi-rural adjective
• quasi-rurally adverb
• semirural adjective
• semirurally adverb
• semiruralism noun
• unrural adjective
• unrurally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rural¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin rūrālis, equivalent to rūr- (stem of rūs ) “the country, rural land” (akin to room ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rural¹

C15: via Old French from Latin rūrālis , from rūs the country

Synonym Study

Rural and rustic are terms that refer to the country. Rural is the official term: rural education. It may be used subjectively, and usually in a favorable sense: the charm of rural life. Rustic, however, may have either favorable or unfavorable connotations. In a derogatory sense, it means provincial, boorish, or crude; in a favorable sense, it may suggest ruggedness or a homelike rural charm: rustic simplicity.

Example Sentences

Boyd and his passenger, Bradley Williams, gave chase for 9 miles before turning in behind Spivey on rural Camp Swamp Road.

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In suburban and rural areas, the observed increase in violent crime over that same span—4% and 2%, respectively—wasn’t statistically significant.

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Kōrero is an ordinary rural girl who rises to heroism in a manner worthy of Tolkien.

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Made by Japanese blind-box creator Dreams, Sonny Angels weren’t available in Weibel’s rural hometown of Green Lane, Pa. He got his hands on one while visiting a relative in Austin, Texas.

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These mill towns employed young women from rural New England, providing dormitory housing and attempting to maintain moral oversight while maximizing efficiency.

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Related Words

• agrarian 
• agricultural www.thesaurus.com
• backwoods 
• bucolic 
• idyllic 
• pastoral 
• provincial 
• rustic