pas·to·ral
ˈpa-st(ə-)rəl 
nonstandard pa-ˈstȯr-əl
1
a(1)
: of, relating to, or composed of shepherds or herdsmen
a pastoral people, seminomadic in their habits—
J. M. Mogey
J. M. Mogey
(2)
: devoted to or based on livestock raising
a pastoral economy
b
: of or relating to the countryside : not urban
a pastoral setting
c
: portraying or expressive of the life of shepherds or country people especially in an idealized and conventionalized manner
pastoral poetry
a pastoral symphony
d
: pleasingly peaceful and innocent : idyllic
pastoral dreams were shattered by the year's round of … unwelcome visitors, ruinous floods and procrastinating workmen—Betty Fussell
Betty Fussell2
a
: of or relating to spiritual care or guidance especially of a congregation
pastoral counseling
b
: of or relating to the pastor of a church
pastoral duties
pastoralness
noun
pas·to·ral
ˈpa-st(ə-)rəl
-ˈral
sense 1d is often
ˌpa-stə-ˈräl
-ˈral
plural pastorals
1
a
: a literary work (such as a poem or play) dealing with shepherds or rural life in a usually artificial manner and typically drawing a contrast between the innocence and serenity of the simple life and the misery and corruption of city and especially court life
b
: pastoral poetry or drama
c
: a rural picture or scene
2
3
: a letter of a pastor to a charge: such as
a
: a letter addressed by a bishop to the bishop's diocese
b
: a letter of the house of bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church to be read in each parish
Examples of pastoral in a Sentence
Adjective
The house is situated in a charming pastoral setting.
Her favorite painting in the collection is a pastoral landscape.
The bishop outlined the church's views in a pastoral letter.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2024
Now that the writing was on the wall, the pastoral quality of the Williams-cast was like a balm to my ears.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
For those who make the trek, the week will be filled with events ranging from the pastoral to the glamourous to the overtly highbrow.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for pastoral 
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Adjective
The red brick main home, which spans approximately 8,800 square feet, boasts three fireplaces, numerous picture windows that showcase the pastoral grounds, and intricate millwork throughout.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2024
Now that the writing was on the wall, the pastoral quality of the Williams-cast was like a balm to my ears.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
Science emerges as a version of the pastoral, with the physicist as swain.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
For those who make the trek, the week will be filled with events ranging from the pastoral to the glamourous to the overtly highbrow.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for pastoral
Articles Related to pastoral
Dictionary Entries Near pastoral
Cite this Entry
“Pastoral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pastoral. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pastoral
1 of 2 adjective
pas·to·ral
ˈpas-t(ə-)rəl
1
a
: of or relating to shepherds or rural life
b
: devoted to or based on livestock raising
2
: of or relating to the pastor of a church
pastoral
2 of 2 noun
pas·to·ral
ˈpas-t(ə-)rəl,
sense 3 is often ˌpas-tə-ˈräl,
-ˈral
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