farmer

noun

farm·​er ˈfär-mər 

1

: a person who pays a fixed sum for some privilege or source of income

2

: a person who cultivates land or crops or raises animals (such as livestock or fish)

3

: yokel, bumpkin

Synonyms

• agriculturist
• agriculturalist
• agronomist
• cultivator
• grower
• planter
• tiller

Examples of farmer in a Sentence

My uncle has been a farmer for 60 years.

a young farmer whose family has been growing wheat for many generations

Recent Examples on the Web

Iqra’s father, a 45-year-old farmer named Sana Ullah, told the BBC that the 13-year-old was working for the Shafiq family because Ullah was in debt. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Public has the right to know Opinion: California’s smart and vocal farmers keep silent as Trump wastes water Water commissioners seemed particularly interested in helping move Sites Reservoir toward construction. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025

Beekeepers rent their hives to growers for upward of $225 apiece during almond bloom, with farmers renting hundreds of hives or more, depending on their acreage, to spread throughout their orchards. —Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 18 Feb. 2025

In carrying out their attack, gangs have killed at least 150 people, a local human rights group said, and displaced as many as 3,000 residents, mostly farmers. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing farmer

• dirt farmer
• farmer cheese
• farmer's lung
• farmer's market
• gentleman farmer
• non-farmer
• tenant farmer

Kids Definition

farmer

noun

farm·​er ˈfär-mər 

: a person who cultivates land or crops or raises animals

Biographical Definition

Farmer 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Far·​mer ˈfär-mər 

Fannie Merritt 1857–1915 American cookery expert

Farmer

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

James Leonard 1920–1999 American civil rights leader