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Synonyms

countryside

American  
[kuhn-tree-sahyd] / ˈkʌn triˌsaɪd /

noun

  1. a particular section of a country, especially a rural section.

  2. its inhabitants.

countryside British  
/ ˈkʌntrɪˌsaɪd /

noun

  1. a rural area or its population

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of countryside

First recorded in 1615–25; country + side 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And analysts say the April 12 election will be decided in the countryside.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Paluso-Serrano, 30, dreamed of living in the Japanese countryside.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

There are century-old historic gems in the countryside or simple homes in the suburbs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

He went on to say the lights could become "a source of annoyance to people" and "harmful to wildlife", and added that he felt they could "undermine enjoyment of the countryside or the night sky".

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Dad used to say Jackson can be as quiet as the countryside or as loud as a city, it just depends on what mood it’s in.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.