rustic

1 of 2

adjective

rus·​tic ˈrə-stik How to pronounce rustic (audio)
variants or less commonly rustical
1
: of, relating to, or suitable for the country : rural
rustic rolling farmland
2
a
: made of the rough limbs of trees
rustic furniture
b
: finished by rusticating
a rustic joint in masonry
3
a
: characteristic of or resembling country people
b
: lacking in social graces or polish
4
: appropriate to the country (as in plainness or sturdiness)
heavy rustic boots
rustically adverb
rusticity noun

rustic

2 of 2

noun

1
: an inhabitant of a rural area
2
a
: an awkward coarse person
b
: an unsophisticated rural person

Examples of rustic in a Sentence

Adjective The inn has a rustic atmosphere. rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind Noun a rustic who was awed by the prices that city dwellers had to pay
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
What works for a seafront villa in a warm climate won’t necessarily work for a rustic barn-style home in the woods, a suburban Victorian, or a townhouse in the city. Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024 One-color transferware patterns that feel at home in both rustic and refined settings. Sandra S. Soria, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
The vibe: Elevated and modern with a touch of rustic. Laura Barrero, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024 The Swag, Waynesville, North Carolina The decor here is pitch-perfect rustic: cozy without being twee. Juliet Izon, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for rustic 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English rustik, from Latin rusticus, from rus open land — more at room

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rustic was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rustic

Cite this Entry

“Rustic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rustic. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

rustic

1 of 2 adjective
rus·​tic ˈrəs-tik How to pronounce rustic (audio)
: of, relating to, or suitable for the country or country people : rural
rustically adverb
rusticity noun

rustic

2 of 2 noun
: a person living or raised in the country

More from Merriam-Webster on rustic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!