# heath

/ˈhiθ/ (US) · /hˈiːθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heath
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. open land

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a large area of open, wild land with sandy soil and low plants, but few trees.

For teachers: a tract of open, uncultivated land characterized by poor, acidic soil and scrubby vegetation.

- We spent the afternoon walking across the windy heath near the coast.
- The preservation of the lowland heath is vital for several rare bird species that nest exclusively in the dense gorse and heather.

Teaching tip: This term is much more common in British English than American English, where 'scrubland' or 'moor' might be used depending on the geography.

### 2. a type of plant

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small evergreen plant with tiny leaves and flowers that grows in wild, dry areas.

For teachers: any of various low-growing evergreen shrubs of the family Ericaceae, particularly those in the genus Erica.

- The garden was filled with purple heath that bloomed even in the cold.
- The botanist identified several varieties of alpine heath clinging to the rocky crevices above the tree line.

Usage: In general conversation, 'heather' is the more common term for the plant; 'heath' is often reserved for technical or botanical contexts.

## Examples

- We went for a long walk across the windy heath.
- The local government protected the heath from developers to preserve the rare birds that nest in the low shrubs.
- The novel opens with a vivid description of the desolate heath, using the harsh, unyielding landscape as a metaphor for the protagonist's internal struggle.

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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.