rural

adjective

ru·​ral ˈru̇r(-ə)l 

ˈrər(-ə)l

: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture

rurality

ru̇-ˈra-lə-tē 

noun

rurally

ˈru̇r-ə-lē 

ˈrər-

adverb

Synonyms

• bucolic
• country
• pastoral
• rustic
• rustical

Examples of rural in a Sentence

She lives in a rural area.

grew up in a rural community where more than half the people were farmers

Recent Examples on the Web

This committee identifies and reduces systemic barriers to healthcare access to marginalized communities like people of color, those who are poor and those with limited access to healthcare resources such as those that live in rural areas of America. —Omer Awan, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

Reportedly, Posey also enjoys tending to a garden at the rural retreat. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 25 Feb. 2025

The prewar experience of Stalin’s ruthless collectivization left the predominantly rural population in the region of Smolensk deeply resentful of the communist regime, and many locals hoped life under Hitler would be an improvement. —Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

Morales is hiding out in Chapare, a rural province in central Bolivia. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ruralis, from rur-, rus open land — more at room

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rural

• rural dean
• rural free delivery
• rural route

Rhymes for rural

• crural
• dural
• jural
• mural
• neural
• pleural
• plural
• extramural
• intramural
• intrapleural
• figural
• flexural

Kids Definition

rural

adjective

ru·​ral ˈru̇r-əl 

: of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture