English Reference
Noun

agriculture

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US /ˈæɡɹɪˌkəɫtʃɝ/ UK /ˈæɡɹɪkˌʌltʃɐ/ agri·cul·ture UK spelling agricultures Agriculture

n.the work of growing crops and raising animals for food and other products. It is the science and business of farming.

n.the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock.


SIMPLE

Modern agriculture uses technology to grow more food.

CONTEXTUAL

The country's economy depends heavily on agriculture, particularly the export of wheat and corn.

COMPLEX

Sustainable agriculture aims to meet current food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs by protecting soil health and water quality.

Usage

Uncountable in its general sense; occasionally countable when referring to specific regional or historical systems of farming.

Usage agriculture sector · agriculture industry

Anna Dilger receives research funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the National Pork Board, and companies that are involved in pork and meat production.

The Conversation· 17 Aug 2026

While there were significant differences between sectors in specific weather effects, those working in agriculture, emergency services, and transport and logistics reported the highest exposure across all weather categories.

Phys.org· 15 Aug 2026

Common in science writing


From Middle English agriculture, partly from Middle French agriculture and partly from its etymon Latin agricultūra, from ager (“field”) + cultūra (“cultivation”). See acre and culture.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin agricultūra
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated