grassland

noun

grass·​land ˈgras-ˌland How to pronounce grassland (audio)
1
: farmland occupied chiefly by forage plants and especially grasses
2
a
: land on which the natural dominant plant forms are grasses and forbs
b
: an ecological community in which the characteristic plants are grasses

Examples of grassland in a Sentence

stunning pictures of the giraffes and zebras roaming the grasslands of Africa
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.
The drumlin islands feature diverse ecosystems including salt marshes, sandy beaches, sea-grass beds, tidal pools, mudflats, grasslands and hardwood forests—alongside a wide range of wild animals and marine life, including mussels, barnacles and dozens of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 Thousands of the leggy birds return to England’s moors and grasslands each spring to breed. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025 The giant bison was an herbivore and grazed on the grasslands and open savannas of North America, feeding on a variety of plants. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Furthermore, by knocking down trees and maintaining grasslands, Colossal says, mammoths will help slow snowmelt, ensuring Arctic ecosystems absorb less sunlight. Nitin Sekar, ArsTechnica, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grassland

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of grassland was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Grassland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grassland. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

grassland

noun
grass·​land -ˌland How to pronounce grassland (audio)
: land covered with herbs (as grasses and clover) rather than shrubs and trees

More from Merriam-Webster on grassland

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