marsh

noun

ˈmärsh 

often attributive

: a tract of soft wet land usually characterized by monocotyledons (such as grasses or cattails)

Synonyms

• bog
• fen
• marshland
• mire
• moor
• morass
• muskeg
• slough
• slew
• slue
• swamp
• swampland
• wash
• wetland

Examples of marsh in a Sentence

a wide expanse of marsh

the marshes along the coast support a remarkable profusion of plants and animals

Recent Examples on the Web

Medaka–aka the Japanese rice fish–are only about 1.4 inches long and can be found in rice paddies, ponds, marshes, quiet streams, and tide pools in Japan. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2025

This popular park is known for its diverse landscapes, from bald cypress swamps and maritime forests to tidal marshes. —AFAR Media, 17 Dec. 2024

These marsh plants capture sediment and help rebuild the shoreline naturally. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

So dry spots within a marsh are where deer will bed and find sanctuary. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mersh, from Old English merisc, mersc; akin to Middle Dutch mersch marsh, Old English mere sea, pool — more at marine

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing marsh

• marsh elder
• marsh gas
• marsh hawk
• marsh hen
• marsh mallow
• marsh marigold
• marsh pink
• salt marsh

Kids Definition

marsh

noun

ˈmärsh 

: an area of soft wet land usually overgrown by grasses and sedges

marshy

ˈmär-shē

adjective

Biographical Definition

Marsh

biographical name

ˈmärsh 

Dame (Edith) Ngaio ˈnī-(ˌ)ō  1899–1982 New Zealand writer