marsh

noun

ˈmärsh 

often attributive

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

Synonyms

• wetland
• swamp

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

Enhancing a marsh requires its own kind of balance: Reestablishing Spartina grasses, Marturano told me, can mean using bulldozers outfitted with snowshoe-like tracks to bring the marsh down to a particular elevation. —Kyra Morris, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025

Regular burns are actually essential to the Everglades, clearing grasses to help water flow through the marshes, killing exotic plants and fertilizing new growth with ash. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025

Keep the marshes please and do something smart for once. —Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025

When hunting big marshes or rivers, start by pinpointing boat launches and hazards. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for marsh

• harsh

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