polder

[ pohl-der ]

noun

1. a tract of low land, especially in the Netherlands, reclaimed from the sea or other body of water and protected by dikes.

polder

/ ˈpəʊldə; ˈpɒl- /

noun

1. a stretch of land reclaimed from the sea or a lake, esp in the Netherlands

Word History and Origins

Origin of polder¹

Borrowed into English from Dutch around 1595–1605

Word History and Origins

Origin of polder¹

C17: from Middle Dutch polre

Example Sentences

He said there was increasing focus on so-called "green-adaptation" measures, like polders and plains that can be flooded, to stop water running off too fast.

From Reuters

This approach is so ingrained in Dutch politics, there is a name for it: the ‘‘poldermodel,” with polder meaning “land reclaimed from the sea.”

From New York Times

Lee said Singapore’s future options include building polders, areas of land reclaimed from a body of water, or reclaiming a series of islands offshore and connecting them with barrages.

From Reuters

Now pumps are run by diesel, not wind, but the polder landscape of small rectangles of land surrounded by drainage channels remains.

From New York Times

“Over 500 years, each decade or every 20 years, you can draw a new map of the Netherlands because there are new embankments or polders or whatever. There was a continuous process going on.”

From The Guardian

Related Words

• bog
• marshland
• morass
• mud
• quagmire