Rustic — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈrə-stik/ rus·tic

Meaning & Definition of Rustic

Rustic (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or suitable for the country, rural
  2. made of the rough limbs of trees
  3. finished by rusticating

Rustic (noun)

  1. an inhabitant of a rural area
  2. an awkward coarse person
  3. an unsophisticated rural person

Rustic (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an awkward or simple person especially from a small town or the country

    "a rustic who was awed by the prices that city dwellers had to pay"

    similar: bumpkin, chawbacon, churl, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hick, provincial, rube, yokel
    related: boor, clod, clown, gawk, lout, oaf, greenhorn, tenderfoot, peasant, peon, backwoodsman, mountaineer
    opposite: cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, sophisticate
    near: slicker, smoothy, metropolitan, suburbanite, urbanite

Rustic (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking social grace and assurance

    "rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind"

    similar: awkward, clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden
    related: angular, gawky, lubberly, ungainly, boorish, clownish, uncouth, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious, agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed, perturbed, rattled, unhinged, unsettled, upset, diffident, insecure, meek, modest, self-doubting, timid, unassertive, unassuming, unpretentious
    opposite: graceful, suave, urbane
    near: assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed

  2. of, relating to, associated with, or typical of open areas with few buildings or people

    "a rustic area that has a refreshing lack of billboards and shopping malls"

    similar: bucolic, country, pastoral, rural
    related: backwoods, backwoodsy, countrified, provincial, agrarian, agricultural, nonurban, semirural
    opposite: urban
    near: citified, urbanized, metro, metropolitan, municipal, nonagricultural, nonfarm

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rustic

The most common words with a similar meaning to Rustic:

bumpkin, chawbacon, churl, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hick, provincial, rube, yokel, awkward, clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden, bucolic, country, pastoral, rural

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Rustic

Words with the opposite meaning of Rustic:

cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, sophisticate, graceful, suave, urbane, urban

Related Words for Rustic

boor, clod, clown, gawk, lout, oaf, greenhorn, tenderfoot, peasant, peon, backwoodsman, mountaineer, angular, gawky, lubberly, ungainly, boorish, clownish, uncouth, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious, agitated, bothered, chagrined

Near Antonyms of Rustic

slicker, smoothy, metropolitan, suburbanite, urbanite, assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, citified, urbanized, metro, municipal, nonagricultural, nonfarm

Word Forms of Rustic

Derived words: rustically (adverb), rusticity (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Rustic

Middle English rustik, from Latin rusticus, from rus open land room

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Rustic

What does "Rustic" mean?

"Rustic" means of, relating to, or suitable for the country, rural. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or suitable for the country, rural. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Rustic"?

Other words for "Rustic" include bumpkin, chawbacon, churl, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed and hick. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rustic" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Rustic"?

There are 89 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rustic". Common alternatives include bumpkin, chawbacon, churl, clodhopper, cornball, countryman, hayseed, hick, provincial and rube.

What is the opposite of "Rustic"?

Antonyms of "Rustic" include cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, sophisticate, graceful, suave, urbane and urban. Near antonyms include slicker, smoothy, metropolitan and suburbanite.

How do you use "Rustic" in a sentence?

Examples of "Rustic" in a sentence: "a rustic who was awed by the prices that city dwellers had to pay"; "rustic yokels whose first impulse was to smirk gawkily at anyone not of their own kind"; "a rustic area that has a refreshing lack of billboards and shopping malls".

Is "Rustic" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Rustic" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Rustic"?

"Rustic" is pronounced /ˈrə-stik/ and divided into syllables as rus·tic.

What is the origin of the word "Rustic"?

"Rustic" comes from Middle English rustik, from Latin rusticus, from rus open land room. First known use: 15th century.