farmer

farmer — noun

1. a person who works on a farm, producing food by growing crops or keeping animals

1.nounA2
Definition

a person who works on a farm, producing food by growing crops or keeping animals

Example

After heavy rain ruined her wheat, farmer Élise had to borrow money.

Nkechi's uncle was a farmer who grew rice and vegetables on a small piece of land.

relative clause: farmer who grows [specific crops]

Common collocations
  • local farmer
  • organic farmer
  • work as a farmer
  • dairy farmer
  • become a farmer
Synonyms
  • rancher

    used mainly in the US for someone who raises cattle, horses, or sheep on large open land

  • grower

    focuses on cultivating crops such as fruit, vegetables, or flowers, rather than raising animals

  • agricultural worker

    a broader, more formal term that includes paid labourers who may not own the farm

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Farmer is the most common and general term for anyone who works on a farm, raising crops or animals. A rancher (mainly US) typically raises livestock on large open ranges rather than growing crops. A grower focuses specifically on producing plants, fruits, or vegetables, often in greenhouses or orchards. Agricultural worker is a broader, more formal term that includes both farm owners and paid employees. For example: 'The grower ships apples to the city every autumn.' 'Ranchers in Texas faced a difficult dry season.' 'Many agricultural workers live in housing provided by the farm owner.'

rancher ↗groweragricultural worker

Common collocations

Nouns

  • dairy farmer
  • cattle farmer
  • organic farmer
  • subsistence farmer
  • rice farmer
  • tobacco farmer

Phrases

  • work as a farmer
  • a farmer's life
  • become a farmer
  • run a farm

Prepositions

  • farmer in + place
  • farmer of + crop/animal type

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchAnglo-NormanMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'farmer' comes from the Anglo-French 'fermier', which meant someone who collected taxes or rents for a fixed fee. This word came from Old French 'ferme' (a lease or rented land), and ultimately from the Latin 'firmus' meaning fixed or secure. Originally, a farmer was someone who rented land rather than owning it; over time the meaning shifted to anyone who works the land to produce food.