rustic

1 of 2

adjective

rus·​tic ˈrə-stik 

variants or less commonly rustical

ˈrə-sti-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or suitable for the country : rural

rustic rolling farmland

2

a

: made of the rough limbs of trees

rustic furniture

b

: finished by rusticating

a rustic joint in masonry

3

a

: characteristic of or resembling country people

b

: lacking in social graces or polish

4

: appropriate to the country (as in plainness or sturdiness)

heavy rustic boots

rustically

ˈrə-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

rusticity

ˌrə-ˈsti-sə-tē 

noun

rustic

2 of 2

noun

1

: an inhabitant of a rural area

2

a

: an awkward coarse person

b

: an unsophisticated rural person

Synonyms

Adjective

• awkward
• clumsy
• gauche
• graceless
• inelegant
• rough-hewn
• stiff
• stilted
• uncomfortable
• uneasy
• ungraceful
• wooden

Noun

• bumpkin
• chawbacon
• churl
• clodhopper
• cornball
• countryman
• hayseed
• hick
• provincial
• rube
• yokel

Examples of rustic in a Sentence

Adjective

The inn has a rustic atmosphere.

rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind

Noun

a rustic who was awed by the prices that city dwellers had to pay

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Where to eat In Ben Lomond, Aroma Restaurant has indoor and outdoor tables, with a pair of fireplaces in the rustic but stylish dining room. —Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

The main room is full of locals seeking an early-afternoon pick-me-up, but the backyard is quieter, with rustic tables and large plants under a makeshift roof made of golden tarp. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024

Noun

With its abundance of local art and the low-key rustic—yet no doubt pricey—details that adorn its interiors, this sprawling campus provides the ultimate eco-luxe immersion. —Jessica Ritz, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024

The vibe: Elevated and modern with a touch of rustic. —Laura Barrero, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English rustik, from Latin rusticus, from rus open land — more at room

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rustic

1 of 2 adjective

rus·​tic ˈrəs-tik 

: of, relating to, or suitable for the country or country people : rural

rustically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

rusticity

ˌrəs-ˈtis-ət-ē 

noun

rustic

2 of 2 noun

: a person living or raised in the country