adj

rural

ROOR-ruhl

adj

Relating to the countryside, farmland, or village life, as opposed to cities.

"They moved from the city to a rural area to raise their kids."

"Rural hospitals often struggle to attract enough doctors."

How to Use Rural

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes the countryside or farming life, in contrast to urban city life.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "rustic" — rustic describes a countryside style or aesthetic (like rustic furniture), while rural simply describes location.

Easily confused with

rustic →

Common pairings

rural areas rural communities urban and rural

more rural comparative, rurals plural, most rural superlative

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They moved from the city to a _____ area to raise their kids.

From Old French rural, from Latin rūrālis, from rūs ("countryside").

mural plural neural natural cultural epidural subdural guttural unnatural inaugural structural procedural