agriculture

noun

ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈa-gri-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce agriculture (audio)
: the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products
cleared the land to use it for agriculture
agriculturist noun

Examples of agriculture in a Sentence

They cleared the land to use it for agriculture. the forest was cut down, and the land given over to agriculture
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In response, China has announced a fresh round of retaliatory tariffs, covering US agriculture imports, which took effect Monday. John Liu, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025 The implications of these solutions are remarkable, especially for nations where access to clean water, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy remains limited. Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025 The filing also outlines the company's strategic focus on expanding its Precision Logistics services to small and medium-sized businesses in the agriculture, food, and healthcare industries. Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2025 Farms like Flow Kana in California’s Emerald Triangle use regenerative agriculture practices, which not only produce cleaner, chemical-free cannabis but also sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for agriculture

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin agricultura, from ager field + cultura cultivation — more at acre, culture

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agriculture was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Agriculture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agriculture. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

agriculture

noun
ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈag-ri-ˌkəl-chər How to pronounce agriculture (audio)
: the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock : farming
agriculturist noun
or agriculturalist

More from Merriam-Webster on agriculture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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