wetland

American  

[wet-land] / ˈwɛtˌlænd /

noun

1. Often wetlands. land that has a wet and spongy soil, as a marsh, swamp, or bog.

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wetland British  

/ ˈwɛtlənd /

noun

1. (sometimes plural)

   1. an area of swampy or marshy land, esp considered as part of an ecological system

   2. ( as modifier )

      wetland species

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wetland Scientific  

/ wĕt′lănd′ /

1. A low-lying area of land that is saturated with moisture, especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife. Marshes, swamps, and bogs are examples of wetlands.

2. See more at lacustrine marine palustrine riverine

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Closer Look

Wetlands are areas such as swamps, bogs, and marshes where water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface, particularly in the root zone, at least a good portion of the year, including the growing season. In the past, wetlands were generally considered unproductive or undesirable lands—smelly and unhealthful, a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests—and many were filled in to create farmland or to develop land for housing and industrial use. More than half of the original wetlands in the continental United States have disappeared in the name of reclamation, disease prevention, and flood control. Scientists now realize that, far from being noxious barrens, wetlands play a key role in the ecosystem. They act as filters, removing pollutants, including metals, from waters. They serve as reservoirs, and they aid flood and erosion control by absorbing excess water. Wetlands are home to a great variety of plant and animal species, some endangered, that have evolved to live in the wetland's unique conditions. The preservation and, where possible, restoration of these vital habitats has become a primary goal of environmentalists around the world.

Etymology

Origin of wetland

First recorded in 1770–80; wet + -land

Explanation

An ecosystem that is extremely soggy — like a bog or a swamp — is a wetland. You can find plants including cattails and water lilies growing in wetlands. Coined in the 1740s, wetland is a fairly obvious combination of wet and land, which perfectly describes what they're like. Whether they're saturated with saltwater or freshwater, these ecosystems support many species of animals and plants. The presence of organisms that have adapted to live in areas that are usually (but not always) flooded is what distinguishes marshes, estuaries, and other wetlands from bodies of water.

Example Sentences

Watched and photographed by a host of humans, the annual migration of the sandhill crane, once nearly extinct, begins from an Indiana wetland in the twilight of late fall.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

There, she explored how restoration efforts are shaping the carbon and nutrient cycles within the country’s wetland soils.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

"If you want to put a sensor out in the wild, in a farm or in a wetland, you are constrained to putting a battery in it or harvesting solar energy," Yen said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

River and features a large wetland area with nature trails.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

I swiveled around, but the Illinois wetland had vanished.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• bog
• glade