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

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

Given the forum’s location in the Central Valley, the agricultural industry and rural issues were front and center.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Growing up in rural America, Carlile knew she was gay, but had "never met" another gay person in her life.

Read more on BBC

When you scan their rural town, a wasteland of Dollar General stores and fast food chains, most of their neighbors seem to have already faded away.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Country Doctor” is not heavy with statistics, just a few discouraging notes: 140 hospitals in rural areas have closed since 2010; 600 are in danger of doing the same now.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Senate Republicans added a $50 billion relief fund to the bill at the last minute for rural hospitals, but no similar bailout was included for urban hospitals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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