wetland

American  

[wet-land] / ˈwɛtˌlænd /

noun

• wetlands
  plural

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• wetlands
  plural

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

See Examples For:

wetland wetlands

The bird, which feeds on vegetation and insects, has long, bright yellow legs and toes that it uses to gracefully make its way through the wetland.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

At La Albufera National Park, a protected coastal wetland covering 21,000 hectares south of Valencia, officials have spent the past week turning away or ejecting unauthorized onlookers attempting to enter restricted areas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Park ranger, Emilia Fahlstromova, said that wood is the best material possible to restore the wetland habitats.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Work will begin in the autumn to create new wetland areas that will support bats, newts, kingfishers and internationally important populations of wading birds and waterfowl.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

One slammed into a wetland and buried itself deep in the mud without exploding.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

SpaceX said it would also work with state and federal agencies to restore wetlands and protect the state’s shoreline.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

They fear that any accidents could threaten not just the nearby reefs but that currents could carry spilled oil to coastal wetlands teeming with wildlife.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

"Great effort went into straightening rivers to harness them for our use, but also into enabling agriculture by draining the wetlands."

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

For decades, so much water has been taken that the river seldom meets the sea in Mexico, and its delta, once filled with lush wetlands and forests, has shriveled to stretches of dry riverbed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

According to wetlands experts quoted in the paper, the whole thing had resulted from the pond being too shallow and the water too warm.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

Related Words

• bog
• glade