swath

noun

ˈswäth 

ˈswȯth

variants or swathe

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h,

ˈswāt͟h 

1

a

: a row of cut grain or grass left by a scythe or mowing machine

b

: the sweep of a scythe or a machine in mowing or the path cut in one course

2

: a long broad strip or belt

3

: a stroke of or as if of a scythe

4

: a space devastated as if by a scythe

Examples of swath in a Sentence

An aerial view of the countryside shows wide swathes of green.

He cut a swath through the field with his scythe.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is especially important for healthcare, which often has large swaths of information in a variety of different formats and require collation from disparate sources. —Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Under new rules intended to stabilize California’s troubled home insurance market, insurers will be able to set rates by drawing on a wide swath of meteorological, geographic and other data in establishing rates, rather than largely relying on historical losses. —Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

That could then lead a wide swath of businesses to lay off workers. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024

If drylands further expand, a number of regions are likely to be affected, the UNCCD found — areas that would see their drylands widen in a high-emissions scenario include the Midwestern U.S., central Mexico, broad swaths of southern Africa and all of the Mediterranean. —Zack Budryk, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English swæth footstep, trace; akin to Middle High German swade swath

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

swath

noun

ˈswäth 

ˈswȯth

variants or swathe

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h,

ˈswāt͟h

1

a

: the sweep of a scythe or machine in mowing or the path cut in one course

b

: a row of cut grain or grass

2

: a long broad strip or belt

3

: a space destroyed as if by a mowing machine