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Definition of wild rye
wild rye
Plural:wild ryes
wild rye Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various tall, perennial grasses of the genus Elymus, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and commonly found in prairies and woodlands, often utilized for livestock forage or soil erosion control.
Example
"The ecological restoration project involved planting native wild rye to help stabilize the loose soil along the eroded riverbank."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for wild rye• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound phrase combining 'wild' (from Old English 'wilde') and 'rye' (from Old English 'ryge'), denoting its uncultivated nature compared to the closely related domesticated cereal crop.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wild rye. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wild rye