agriculture

noun

ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈa-gri-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products

cleared the land to use it for agriculture

agriculturist

ˌa-gri-ˈkəl-ch(ə-)rist 

noun

or agriculturalist

ˌa-gri-ˈkəl-ch(ə-)rə-list 

Synonyms

• farming
• husbandry

Examples of agriculture in a Sentence

They cleared the land to use it for agriculture.

the forest was cut down, and the land given over to agriculture

Recent Examples on the Web

The brand has a long-standing commitment to fostering regenerative agriculture. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

With industries like elder care and agriculture desperate for workers, the government this year moved to relax visa regulations to allow more foreign laborers to stay longer, switch jobs, and bring over their families. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025

Thanks to a federal order the USDA issued earlier this month requiring the collection and testing of raw milk samples from around the country, agriculture and public health officials are now able to monitor the nation’s milk supply and dairy herds. —Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 31 Dec. 2024

In 2024, farmers became the heroes of sustainability as regenerative agriculture transitioned from a buzzword to a proven reality. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin agricultura, from ager field + cultura cultivation — more at acre, culture

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing agriculture

• community-supported agriculture

Kids Definition

agriculture

noun

ag·​ri·​cul·​ture ˈag-ri-ˌkəl-chər 

: the science or occupation of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock : farming

agriculturist

ˌag-ri-ˈkəlch- (ə-)rəst 

noun

or agriculturalist

-(ə-)rə-ləst