Rural: Definition, Usage & Examples Explained

Meaning 1：relating to the countryside (rural)

rural 🔊

/ˈrʊrəl/

adj.

describes areas outside cities, like villages and the countryside, with farms, fields, and fewer people.

Rural definition illustrated by a peaceful countryside landscape with green fields and farmhouses.

relating to the countryside 🔊

➕

/rɪˈleɪtɪŋ tə ðə ˈkʌntrisaɪd/

adj.

Pertaining to areas that are not towns or cities, typically characterized by open land, farms, and a lower population density.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'rūrālis', from 'rūs' (countryside).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'rural' and 'rustic'. Both describe the peaceful, simple life away from the busy city.

📖 Example

My grandmother lives in a rural area where it's very quiet and you can see many stars at night. 🔊 My grandmother lives in an area related to the countryside where it's very quiet and you can see many stars at night.

🔗 Collocations

rural area – a geographical region outside towns and cities

rural development – the process of improving the quality of life in the countryside

rural community – a group of people living in the countryside

🔄 Synonyms

countryside (adj.) – relating to rural areas, often used attributively (e.g., countryside life)

rustic (adj.) – characteristic of rural life, often suggesting simplicity or a lack of sophistication

pastoral (adj.) – relating to the countryside, especially in a peaceful, idealized way

🚫 Antonyms

urban (adj.) – relating to a city or town

metropolitan (adj.) – relating to a large, busy city, especially its central part

city (adj.) – relating to characteristics of a city (used attributively, e.g., city life)

🌱 Derivatives

ruralism (n.) – a rural idiom or characteristic; a rural lifestyle or policy

rurality (n.) – the state of being rural; a rural characteristic

ruralize (v.) – to make rural; to move to or live in the countryside

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'rural' originates from the Latin 'rūs', meaning 'open land, countryside'. It entered English via Old French 'rural' in the late 15th century. Its consistent meaning highlights the long-standing distinction between urban centers and agricultural lands.