swath

American  

[swoth, swawth] / swɒθ, swɔθ /

noun

swaths plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• swaths
  plural

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

A prolonged and dangerous heatwave will intensify across a large swath of the US this week, bringing scorching daytime heat, high humidity and stifling overnight temperatures, forecasters predict.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

Neither of those concerns apply to the broad swath of non–Federal Reserve agencies.

From Slate • Jun. 29, 2026

Often called the "cold blob", this swath of water in the North Atlantic has bucked the global warming trend, cooling even as the planet's temperatures rise due to human-induced climate change.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

In Caracas, the damage was notable in the east—a swath with affluent neighborhoods, diplomatic outposts and office buildings—where seismic fault lines lie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

I kneel before the prioress of St Emilion so that I see only the broad swath of her simple habit edged in green velvet Crossing my arms over my chest I avoid her gaze.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• fodder
• grass