arable

1 of 2

adjective

ar·​a·​ble ˈa-rə-bəl How to pronounce arable (audio)
ˈer-ə-
1
: fit for or used for the growing of crops
arable land
2
British : engaged in, produced by, or being the cultivation of arable land
arable farming
arable farmers
arability noun

arable

2 of 2

noun

chiefly British
: land fit or used for the growing of crops
also : a plot of such land
the village arable of Anglo-Saxon times

Examples of arable in a Sentence

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.
Adjective
And the infrastructure needed for adequate food production – greenhouses, arable lands, orchards, livestock and food production facilities – has been destroyed or heavily damaged. Yara M. Asi, The Conversation, 21 May 2025 These plots comprised one of four habitat types: forest, grassland, arable land and human settlements (Figure 2, also see Figure 3). Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
About 13% of the land is arable, with microclimates suited to nearly every crop. The Economist, 28 May 2020 Today, the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon run the estate, spanning 5,000 acres with 4,000 acres of arable farming. Rachel King, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2019 See All Example Sentences for arable

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin arabilis, from arare to plow; akin to Old English erian to plow, Greek aroun

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1576, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Arable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arable. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

arable

adjective
ar·​a·​ble
ˈar-ə-bəl
: fit for or cultivated by plowing : suitable for producing crops
arable soil
arability
ˌar-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on arable

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