swath

American  

[swoth, swawth] / swɒθ, swɔθ /

noun

1. the space covered by the stroke of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine.

2. the piece or strip so cut.

3. a line or ridge of grass, grain, or the like, cut and thrown together by a scythe or mowing machine.

4. a strip, belt, or long and relatively narrow extent of anything.

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idioms

1. cut a swath, to make a pretentious display; attract notice.

   The new doctor cut a swath in the small community.

swath British  

/ sweɪð, swɔːθ /

noun

1. the width of one sweep of a scythe or of the blade of a mowing machine

2. the strip cut by either of these in one course

3. the quantity of cut grass, hay, or similar crop left in one course of such mowing

4. a long narrow strip or belt

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swath More Idioms  

1. see cut a wide swath.

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Etymology

Origin of swath

before 900; Middle English; Old English swæth footprint; cognate with German Shwade

Explanation

A swath was originally the long narrow space created by a single swing of a scythe in a field of grass or corn as the cutter moved through it. Nowadays it is used more figuratively to mean any kind of path someone makes. The figurative use of swath has nonphysical senses as well, as in the term "a significant swath of the population believes..." Or if someone is trying to attract attention to themselves, or is making quite a public stir, they might be said to be "cutting a swath through the business world" or "cutting a swath on the dance floor." Hopefully, neither of the latter involves using scythes.

Example Sentences

It’s usually wrong to stand in your ivory tower shouting out the window that a broad swath of people in the market are mistaken.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Inspired to act, he started reaching out to other electeds and officials, including Assemblymember Diane Dixon, a Republican who represents a swath of coastal Orange County.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

Written by David King Dunaway, a professor of English at the University of New Mexico, the book explains “why eyeglasses have cut such a wide swath through American and world culture.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

“In this election cycle, debates are perhaps the most important because we have such a large swath of electorate that is still undecided,” said Sara Sadhwani, a politics professor at Pomona College.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

It was tight to the ankles and then flared out in a swath of purple-black silk, and it came with a little faux-fur capelet.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

Related Words

• fodder
• grass