vineyard

American  

[vin-yerd] / ˈvɪn yərd /

noun

1. a plantation of grapevines, especially one producing grapes for winemaking.

2. a sphere of activity, especially on a high spiritual plane.

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vineyard British  

/ ˈvɪnjəd /

noun

1. a plantation of grapevines, esp where wine grapes are produced

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Other Word Forms

• vineyardist noun

Etymology

Origin of vineyard

1300–50; Middle English ( see vine, yard ²); replacing win ( e ) yard, Old English wīngeard

Explanation

If you dream of one day growing grapes and making wine in the South of France, you hope to work at a vineyard, another name for a farm where wine grapes are grown. The French tradition of wine making is what led English speakers to adopt a French term for "grape plantation," although in South Africa it is called a "wine farm." Around 1300, the Old English term wingeard was replaced with the word vineyard. The trickiest thing about the word is its pronunciation — the first syllable doesn't actually sound like "vine," but instead is pronounced "vin."

Example Sentences

Meanwhile in Mendoza, Virginia de Valle is making a point of talking to visitors to her family's vineyard about the changes to the law.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Aside from the monetary penalty, the settlement requires Justin and Wonderful to halt any harassment or retaliation, undergo compliance audits and take other measures at the vineyard operations.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Bertrand Degat, vineyard manager for French zero-alcohol wine producer French Bloom, winces visibly when recalling some of the criticism and snobbery he has encountered from his contemporaries.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

A perennially resonant Gospel parable is the one about the vineyard owner with two sons whom he summoned to work on his property.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

The object of the walk was a wild vineyard where the muscadine grew.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison