# fallow

/ˈfæˌɫoʊ/ (US) · /fˈæləʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fallow
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. agricultural land

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes land that is ploughed but left empty for a season so the soil can become healthy again.

For teachers: referring to arable land that is ploughed and harrowed but left unseeded for a duration to allow for natural nutrient replenishment.

- The farmer decided to leave the north field fallow this year to improve the soil.
- Traditional crop rotation often requires a field to lie fallow for a full cycle to prevent the total exhaustion of nitrogen in the soil.

### 2. inactive or unproductive

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

describes a period of time when you are not active, creative, or successful.

For teachers: used figuratively to describe a period of dormancy, inactivity, or lack of creative output.

- After his first successful book, the writer had a fallow period for three years.
- The director's fallow decade was marked by several abandoned projects and a general retreat from the public eye.

### 3. uncultivated ground

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

land that has been prepared for planting but is left empty for a while.

For teachers: land that has been tilled or ploughed but left unseeded for a season; can refer to the state of the land or the land itself.

- The cattle were allowed to graze on the fallow during the summer months.
- The management of fallow is crucial for moisture conservation in semi-arid agricultural regions.

### 4. to leave land empty

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to plough land and leave it without seeds so it can rest.

For teachers: to plough or till land without sowing it, typically as part of a crop rotation strategy.

- It is common practice in this region to fallow the fields every third year.
- By choosing to fallow the acreage rather than planting a cover crop, the farmer hoped to eradicate the persistent weed infestation.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually 'land' or 'field'.

## Examples

- The farmer left the land fallow for a year to improve the soil.
- After three years of growing wheat, the farmer allowed the field to lie fallow to prevent the soil from becoming too exhausted.
- The traditional practice of maintaining a fallow period between harvests was essential for maintaining long-term soil health and preventing the depletion of organic matter.

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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.