plantation
Plantation (noun) means a large farm or estate, especially in a hot climate, growing a single cash crop and historically worked by enslaved or indentured labourers. Example: “The novel is set on a sugar plantation in the nineteenth century.”
How to Use Plantation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large agricultural estate growing one crop, or a planted stand of trees.
In a historical context, "plantation" is closely tied to the history of slavery in the Americas, and the word is often used with that weight.
Word Forms
plantations plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The novel is set on a sugar _____ in the nineteenth century.
Etymology
From Latin plantatio, "a planting," from plantare, "to plant." Its use for a colonial estate comes from the older sense of "establishing a settlement" on new land.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for plantation
See all rhymes for plantation →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “plantation” mean?
The word “plantation” means a large farm or estate, especially in a hot climate, growing a single cash crop and historically worked by enslaved or indentured labourers. In plain terms, a large agricultural estate growing one crop, or a planted stand of trees.
How do you pronounce “plantation”?
“Plantation” is pronounced plan-TAY-shuhn (/plænˈteɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “plantation” in a sentence?
Here is “plantation” used in a sentence: “The novel is set on a sugar plantation in the nineteenth century.”
What part of speech is “plantation”?
“Plantation” is a noun.
Where does the word “plantation” come from?
The word “plantation” comes from Latin. From Latin plantatio, "a planting," from plantare, "to plant." Its use for a colonial estate comes from the older sense of "establishing a settlement" on new land.
Is “plantation” a common word?
“Plantation” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “plantation” have?
“Plantation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large farm or estate, especially in a hot climate, growing a single cash crop and historically worked by enslaved or indentured labourers.
What is the difference between a plantation and a farm?
A plantation is typically a large estate in a hot climate that grows a single cash crop, historically often worked by enslaved or indentured laborers. A farm is a broader, more general term for land used for growing crops or raising animals, of any size or climate, without that specific historical association.
What crops were historically grown on plantations?
Historical plantations commonly grew single cash crops such as cotton, sugar, tobacco, or coffee, depending on the region and climate. This large-scale, single-crop model relied heavily on enslaved or indentured labor.
Does plantation always refer to agriculture involving forced labor?
No, plantation also has a separate, unrelated modern sense referring to an area deliberately planted with trees for timber or landscaping purposes. This sense carries no connection to the historical labor practices associated with cash-crop plantations.