# agricultural

/ˌæɡɹəˈkəɫtʃɝəɫ/ (US) · /ˌæɡɹɪkˈʌltʃəɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/agricultural
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. farming

adjective · CEFR B1

related to farming or the work of growing crops and raising animals.

For teachers: relating to the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock.

- The government is introducing new agricultural policies to help small farmers.
- The region's economy remains heavily dependent on agricultural exports, particularly wheat and barley produced in the fertile northern plains.

### 2. clumsy or rough

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Humorous · Informal

used to describe a style of playing sports that is rough, clumsy, or lacks skill.

For teachers: describing a technique or action that is unrefined, forceful, or lacking in finesse; often used in cricket or football to describe a wild swing or tackle.

- He scored a goal with a very agricultural kick that somehow found the net.
- The batsman was dismissed after attempting an agricultural swipe across the line, a shot completely lacking his usual technical grace.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

Teaching tip: This is a common British idiom in sports commentary; it compares a rough movement to the swinging of a scythe or heavy farm machinery.

## Examples

- The country has a strong agricultural economy.
- New agricultural techniques have allowed farmers to grow more food on less land than ever before.
- The transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities marked a fundamental shift in human history, leading to the development of permanent architecture and complex social hierarchies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.