ENGLISH
REFERENCE

greenfield

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɡɹinˌfiɫd// UK //ɡɹˈiːnfiːld// green·field

adj. describing a project or business that starts from nothing on a new piece of land. You use it when there are no old buildings or systems to worry about.

adj. relating to a project or development site that lacks existing infrastructure or previous construction. Often used in business and urban planning to describe starting a venture from scratch.


SIMPLE

The company is building a greenfield factory in the countryside.

CONTEXTUAL

Software developers often prefer greenfield projects because they can choose the latest technologies without supporting old, legacy code.

COMPLEX

The government's decision to approve greenfield development on the city's outskirts sparked a heated debate regarding urban sprawl and the preservation of local biodiversity.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; frequently contrasted with 'brownfield'.

© 2026 English Reference