# marais

/ˌmɛˈɹeɪ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/marais
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

a low, wet area of land that is often covered with water or mud. It is a French word for a swamp or marsh.

For teachers: a low-lying, wet area of land, typically characterized by marshy or swampy conditions. Borrowed from French, it is often used in English to describe specific geographical features or historical sites.

## Examples

- The old city was built on a dry part of the marais.
- The developers had to drain the marais before they could build the new housing complex on the wetland.
- Historically, the marais was considered a dangerous and unhealthy place to live due to the prevalence of mosquitoes and stagnant water, though it is now a popular urban park.

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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.