ranch

USAGE SUMMARY

"ranch" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a noun to refer to a farm, especially one that is engaged in raising livestock or to refer to a type of house with a single-story dwelling usually having a low-pitched roof and a large porch. For example: "We live on a ranch near the outskirts of town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now he was reduced to trudging through a car crash of a script at a time when he should have been sitting in his ranch in California and waiting for the special achievement award at the Oscars.

The Guardian

It began, he said, on Friday morning after a convoy of soldiers, federal police and state police, came under fire from a vehicle full of armed men close to the ranch located a few miles over the border in the state of Michoacán, near the town of Tanhuato.

The Guardian

"A pursuit began that lead to the ranch," Rubido said, "the rest of the criminals inside the ranch started to attack the federal forces with intensity".

The Guardian

"He said he had been offered maintenance work at the ranch," said a relative, adding that Romero didn't belong to a gang.

The Guardian

South of Bariloche are a string of pleasant towns, including El Bolsón – a former hippy hangout, and still popular with Argentinian campers – and Cholila, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid bought a ranch (you can visit Cassidy's log cabin there).

The Guardian - Travel

The company did not pay higher prices to compliant ranch owners.

The Guardian

The ensuing gun battles, he said, extended throughout the large ranch of 112 hectares and lasted for about three hours.

The Guardian

When about 500 cows and bulls had crossed the river, I followed behind and shook hands with a few of the vaqueros, who I'd met the day before when I first arrived at the ranch.

The Guardian - Travel

There is one small ranch store, and every night a congregation forms outside it to share cowboy stories over rum.

The Guardian - Travel

Romero's relative said he believed what happened on the ranch "was a massacre" not a shootout with criminal gunmen, as the government has said.

The Guardian

Instead, a strict seventh-day adventist, he quit the game at the age of 29 and retreated to a remote ranch to meditate and await the end of the world.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a "ranch", consider specifying the type of animals raised (cattle, sheep, horses) to provide a clearer picture to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "ranch" interchangeably with general terms like "farm". "Ranch" specifically implies a large land area primarily used for raising livestock, while other farms may focus on crops.

Linguistic Context

The word "ranch" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a large area of land used for raising livestock or a style of single-story house. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which predominantly use "ranch" in this manner.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Travel

8%

Books

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "ranch" is a noun most commonly used to refer to a large farm primarily dedicated to raising livestock or a specific style of house. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While "ranch" is generally neutral in register, careful consideration should be given to context to ensure accurate usage, distinguishing it from general farm or homestead. Considering alternative phrases like "cattle farm" or "homestead" can provide more specific and fitting descriptions in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Cattle farm

Focuses specifically on cattle raising aspect of a ranch.

Livestock farm

Emphasizes the raising of animals for commercial purposes.

Homestead

Highlights the self-sufficient aspect of living on a ranch.

Spread

A more informal term emphasizing the vastness of the land.

Farmstead

A cluster of buildings associated with agricultural operations.

Station

Commonly used in Australia, referring to a large farm especially for sheep or cattle.

Graceland

Emphasizes the majestic aspect of a large farm.

Farm

A more general term for land used for agricultural purposes.

Ranchland

Highlights the specific type of land associated with ranching.

Grazing land

Focuses on the land used for grazing livestock.

FAQs

How is the word "ranch" typically used in a sentence?

The word "ranch" is commonly used as a noun to describe a large farm used for raising livestock. For example: "They own a large cattle ranch in Montana."

What words can I use instead of the word "ranch"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "ranch" include "cattle farm", "homestead", or "farmstead".

Is it correct to use "ranch" to describe a small vegetable farm?

While "ranch" can sometimes refer to a small farm, it's more accurate to use terms like "farm" or "smallholding" for properties primarily focused on cultivating vegetables. Using the term "market garden" can be considered depending on the size and objective of the farm.

What's the difference between a "ranch" and a "farm"?

A "ranch" typically specializes in raising livestock on a large area of land, whereas a "farm" is a more general term that can encompass various agricultural activities, including raising crops, and may or may not involve livestock. The main difference relies on the scale of the farm, for instance a "cattle farm" is more focused on raising animals than agricultural products.