heath

¹ American  

[heeth] / hiθ /

noun

1. a tract of open and uncultivated land; wasteland overgrown with shrubs.

2. any of various low-growing evergreen shrubs common on such land, as the common heather, Calluna vulgaris.

3. any plant of the genus Erica, or of the family Ericaceae.

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Heath ² American  

[heeth] / hiθ /

noun

1. Sir Edward (Richard George), 1916–2005, British statesman: prime minister 1970–74.

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heath ¹ British  

/ hiːθ /

noun

1. a large open area, usually with sandy soil and scrubby vegetation, esp heather

2. Also called: heather.  any low-growing evergreen ericaceous shrub of the Old World genus Erica and related genera, having small bell-shaped typically pink or purple flowers

3. any of several nonericaceous heathlike plants, such as sea heath

4. any of various heathlike plants of the genus Epacris : family Epacridaceae

5. any of various small brown satyrid butterflies of the genus Coenonympha, with coppery-brown wings, esp the large heath ( C. tullia )

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Heath ² British  

/ hiːθ /

noun

1. Sir Edward ( Richard George ). 1916–2005, British statesman; leader of the Conservative Party (1965–75); prime minister (1970–74)

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Other Word Forms

• heathless adjective
• heathlike adjective
• heathy adjective

Etymology

Origin of heath

before 900; Middle English; Old English hǣth; cognate with German Heide, Old Norse heithr, Gothic haithi; akin to Welsh coed trees, wood

Explanation

Heath is open land with low growing grasses and plants. If you travel to England, you can drive out in the countryside to see the heath that you've read about in novels. An open, sandy field of low shrubs and scrubby plants like gorse and heather is called a heath. Another word for this kind of uncultivated countryside is moor. A particular evergreen shrub is also called a heath; it's a low-growing plant with purplish flowers that commonly grows on, you guessed it, a heath. The Old English root of heath is the word hǣth, which means "wasteland."

Example Sentences

Demi Lovato is making some changes to their upcoming tour in order to prioritize their heath.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

The “I Wanna Rock” singer is no longer able to perform in the way that he used to because of multiple heath issues.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

Three USC researchers analyzed national health data from more than 44,000 adults surveyed between 1999 and 2020 in a well-known national heath study known as NHANES.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 26, 2025

These early season burns - predominantly grass, heath and shrub fires - have created great strain on fire services, but their ecological impacts can be complicated.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2025

It showed no variation but of tint: green, where rush and moss overgrew the marshes; black, where the dry soil bore only heath.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• expanse
• field
• grassland
• meadow
• plateau
• prairie
• steppe