Word
wetland
Phoneticswet·land, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɛtˌɫænd/
UK/wˈɛtlənd/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. an area of land that is always or often covered by water. These places, like marshes or swamps, are important for many plants and animals.
n. an ecosystem characterized by land that is saturated with or submerged under water, either permanently or seasonally. Often used in environmental and ecological contexts to describe marshes, bogs, and swamps.
Examples
“The local wetland is home to many rare birds.”
“Environmentalists are working to protect the coastal wetland from being drained for new housing developments.”
“Restoring the natural wetland acts as a biological filter, significantly improving water quality while providing a critical buffer against seasonal flooding in the surrounding valley.”
Examples
simple
“The local wetland is home to many rare birds.”
contextual
“Environmentalists are working to protect the coastal wetland from being drained for new housing developments.”
complex
“Restoring the natural wetland acts as a biological filter, significantly improving water quality while providing a critical buffer against seasonal flooding in the surrounding valley.”
Usage
Often used in the plural ('wetlands') when referring to a large geographic area or a specific environmental system.
Real-World Examples
“That's the gap we wanted to fill."
To investigate, the team turned to Kushiro, Japan's largest wetland and its first Ramsar site.” “However, the rich resources of the northern wetlands were more suited to the lifestyle practised by hunter-gatherers.” Etymology
From wet + land. Cognate with West Frisian wetlân.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/wetland