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, there have been calls for rural bus routes to be gritted after a minor incident involving a school bus in County Antrim on Wednesday morning.

From BBC

She believed the man pictured in the article was her brother who was reported missing in 1999 from the rural town of Doyle, the Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release.

From Los Angeles Times

The protestors called on the government to “stop betraying” British farming and rural communities.

From BBC

However, the Scottish Conservatives described the plan as "a ludicrous measure which seeks to demonise motorists in rural areas who rely on using a car".

From BBC

For poorer, often rural districts, that money can be hard to pass up.

From Salon

Related Words

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