arable

American  

[ar-uh-buhl] / ˈær ə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of producing crops; suitable for farming; suited to the plow and for tillage.

   arable land; arable soil.

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noun

1. land that can be or is cultivated.

arable British  

/ ˈærəbəl /

adjective

1. (of land) being or capable of being tilled for the production of crops

2. of, relating to, or using such land

   arable farming

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noun

1. arable land or farming

Other Word Forms

• arability
  noun

Etymology

Origin of arable

1375–1425; < Latin arābilis, equivalent to arā ( re ) to plow + -bilis -ble; replacing late Middle English erable, equivalent to er ( en ) to plow ( Old English erian ) + -able -able

Explanation

If you describe land as arable, it means that something can grow there. If you're looking to raise crops, you better find yourself a patch of arable land. Arable has its Latin roots in the word arare, which means "to plow." Arable soil is ground that can be plowed and cultivated. Chances are — if you are using the word arable, then either the word land or the word soil is following it; however, you might also see the phrase "arable crops" — meaning those crops that are able to be grown on arable land.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arable

Researchers hope the maps could lead to "more precise control of slugs in arable fields" and reduce using pesticides.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

The U.S. has plentiful arable land, navigable rivers, large coastlines and access to two oceans.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 2026

Despite arable land making up just three percent of the territory, it is one of Argentina's main producers of olive oil, grapes, tomatoes and pistachios.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

Until recently manure from the Wye's chicken sheds was spread as cheap fertiliser on nearby arable farmers fields.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026

It was not lawn, nor pasture, nor mead, nor woodland, nor lea, nor arable, nor waste land.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer