rural

[ roor-uhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the country, country life, or country people; rustic:

   agricultural fairs and festivals throughout the rural towns of Georgia.

   Synonyms: rough, unsophisticated

   Antonyms: urban

2. living in the country:

   the rural population.

3. of or relating to agriculture:

   rural economy.

noun

1. a person who lives in a rural area.

rural

/ ˈrʊərəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the country or country life
2. living in or accustomed to the country
3. of, relating to, or associated with farming

Derived Forms

• ˈruralism, noun
• ˈrurally, adverb
• ˈruralist, noun
• ruˈrality, noun

Other Words From

• ru·ral·ism noun
• ru·ral·ist ru·ral·ite noun
• ru·ral·ly adverb
• ru·ral·ness noun
• non·ru·ral adjective
• non·ru·ral·ly adverb
• qua·si-ru·ral adjective
• qua·si-ru·ral·ly adverb
• sem·i·ru·ral adjective
• sem·i·ru·ral·ly adverb
• sem·i·ru·ral·ism noun
• un·ru·ral adjective
• un·ru·ral·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rural¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin rūrālis, equivalent to rūr- (stem of rūs ) “the country, rural land” (akin to room ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rural¹

C15: via Old French from Latin rūrālis , from rūs the country

Synonym Study

Rural and rustic are terms that refer to the country. Rural is the official term: rural education. It may be used subjectively, and usually in a favorable sense: the charm of rural life. Rustic, however, may have either favorable or unfavorable connotations. In a derogatory sense, it means provincial, boorish, or crude; in a favorable sense, it may suggest ruggedness or a homelike rural charm: rustic simplicity.

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, rural communities and small towns will be able to offer more services.

From BBC

"It is dark and I live in a village where it is quite rural, so I do find it a lot more uneasy when I go running in the dark," she says.

From BBC

A grandmother in rural Zambia has become an accidental style icon and internet sensation - after agreeing to play dress-up and swapping outfits with her fashionista granddaughter.

From BBC

Emma moved away to be with family in rural Wales - and then by chance during a therapy session, she said someone spotted she might have autism instead.

From BBC

Waring was also said to have helped Chapman take the car to a rural location near Frodsham, Cheshire, on New Year's Eve, where it was later found burned out.

From BBC

Related Words

• agrarian
• agricultural
• back-country
• backwoods
• bucolic
• idyllic
• pastoral
• provincial
• rustic