rural Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective living in or characteristic of farming or country life
- rural people
- large rural households
- unpaved rural roads
- an economy that is basically rural
adjective of or relating to the countryside as opposed to the city
- rural electrification
- rural free delivery

F., fr. L.ruralis, fr. rus, ruris, the country. Cf. Room space, Rustic.

Of or pertaining to the country, as distinguished from a city or town; living in the country; suitable for, or resembling, the country; rustic; as, rural scenes; a rural prospect.
Here is a rural fellow; . . . He brings you figs. Shak.
Of or pertaining to agriculture; as, rural economy. Syn. -- Rustic. -- Rural, Rustic. Rural refers to the country itself; as, rural scenes, prospects, delights, etc. Rustic refers to the character, condition, taste, etc., of the original inhabitans of the country, who were generally uncultivated and rude; as, rustic manners; a rustic dress; a rustic bridge; rustic architecture, etc.
We turn To where the silver Thames first rural grows. Thomson.

Lay bashfulness, that rustic virtue, by; To manly confidence thy throughts apply. Dryden.