ENGLISH
REFERENCE

champaign

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //tʃæmˈpeɪn// cham·paign Archaic Geography
Definition

n. a wide, open area of flat land without many trees or hills. It is an old word used to describe a large field or plain.

n. An expanse of level, open country without hills or woods. Primarily found in historical or poetic descriptions of landscape.


SIMPLE

The army marched across the vast, grassy champaign.

CONTEXTUAL

From the castle tower, the knights could see for miles across the sun-drenched champaign.

COMPLEX

The poet describes the rolling champaign as a sea of gold, emphasizing the isolation of the rural estate from the crowded city centers.

Usage

Often used in the singular to describe a specific geographic region.

Pitfall

We drank a bottle of champaign.We drank a bottle of champagne.Learners often confuse the archaic word for a plain ('champaign') with the sparkling wine ('champagne').

Last updated May 8, 2026