pastoral

1 of 2

adjective

pas·​to·​ral ˈpa-st(ə-)rəl 

 nonstandard  pa-ˈstȯr-əl

1

a(1)

: of, relating to, or composed of shepherds or herdsmen

a pastoral people, seminomadic in their habits

—J. M. Mogey

(2)

: devoted to or based on livestock raising

a pastoral economy

b

: of or relating to the countryside : not urban

a pastoral setting

c

: portraying or expressive of the life of shepherds or country people especially in an idealized and conventionalized manner

pastoral poetry

a pastoral symphony

d

: pleasingly peaceful and innocent : idyllic

pastoral dreams were shattered by the year's round of … unwelcome visitors, ruinous floods and procrastinating workmen

—Betty Fussell

2

a

: of or relating to spiritual care or guidance especially of a congregation

pastoral counseling

b

: of or relating to the pastor of a church

pastoral duties

pastorally

ˈpa-st(ə-)rə-lē 

adverb

pastoralness noun

pastoral

2 of 2

noun

pas·​to·​ral ˈpa-st(ə-)rəl 

sense 1d is often

ˌpa-stə-ˈräl  -ˈral 

plural pastorals

1

a

: a literary work (such as a poem or play) dealing with shepherds or rural life in a usually artificial manner and typically drawing a contrast between the innocence and serenity of the simple life and the misery and corruption of city and especially court life

b

: pastoral poetry or drama

c

: a rural picture or scene

d

: pastorale sense 1a

2

: crosier sense 1

3

: a letter of a pastor to a charge: such as

a

: a letter addressed by a bishop to the bishop's diocese

b

: a letter of the house of bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church to be read in each parish

Synonyms

Adjective

• bucolic
• country
• rural
• rustic
• rustical

Examples of pastoral in a Sentence

Adjective

The house is situated in a charming pastoral setting.

Her favorite painting in the collection is a pastoral landscape.

The bishop outlined the church's views in a pastoral letter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Now that the writing was on the wall, the pastoral quality of the Williams-cast was like a balm to my ears. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024

Today, its 12 suites are ideal for travelers looking for a taste of modern luxury in heart of a pastoral small town. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024

Noun

Science emerges as a version of the pastoral, with the physicist as swain. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

For those who make the trek, the week will be filled with events ranging from the pastoral to the glamourous to the overtly highbrow. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 25 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Latin pastoralis, from pastor herdsman

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

pastoral

1 of 2 adjective

pas·​to·​ral ˈpas-t(ə-)rəl 

1

a

: of or relating to shepherds or rural life

b

: devoted to or based on livestock raising

2

: of or relating to the pastor of a church

pastoral

2 of 2 noun

pas·​to·​ral

ˈpas-t(ə-)rəl,

 sense 3 is often  ˌpas-tə-ˈräl,

-ˈral

1

: a literary work dealing with shepherds or rural life

2

: a rural picture or scene

3

: pastorale