wetland

[ wet-land ]

noun

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

wetland

/ 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

wetland

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wetland¹

First recorded in 1770–80; wet + -land

A 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.

Example Sentences

Now dozens of its wild spawn roam the wetlands north of Bogota, the largest invasive species on the planet.

From Washington Post

The change also would spare the island’s wetlands, she said.

From Washington Post

The team found that species living in wetlands are doing well.

From Science News For Students

Check out the Everglades National Park video series on wetland habitats.

From Science News For Students

Some new wetlands haven’t worked as well as the wetlands they replaced.

From Science News For Students

The Canadian tar sand deposits exist under an area of forest and wetland the size of Florida.

From The Daily Beast

Other, greener options, like wetland restoration or oyster reefs, could also help slow waves before they reach the city.

From The Daily Beast

Wetland wildlife would get unhealthily wet, damaging unique ecosystems.

From The Daily Beast

The area is a disturbed wetland, invaded by non-native melaleuca trees that have crowded out native flora and fauna.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• bog
• glade