Agricultural vs. Agrarian — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 13, 2023
Agricultural pertains to farming and its practices, while agrarian relates to land, especially its ownership and use in rural societies.
Difference Between Agricultural and Agrarian
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Agricultural is a term directly associated with farming and its associated practices. When one thinks of agricultural activities, the focus primarily shifts to the cultivation of crops, raising of livestock, and the technologies used in these processes. In contrast, agrarian dives deeper into the societal aspects of land. The term agrarian doesn't just relate to farming but delves into the ownership, distribution, and the socio-economic importance of land in rural settings.
Agricultural advancements can refer to the development of new farming equipment or methods, while agrarian changes might speak to shifts in land ownership or reforms in a country.
In essence, while both terms are rooted in the realm of farming, agricultural is more practice-oriented, and agrarian is more socio-political.
Comparison Chart
Primary Focus
Farming practices and methods
Land ownership, distribution, rural society
Applications
Crop cultivation, livestock raising
Land reforms, rural economics
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Nature
Practical
Socio-political
Associated Terms
Farming, cultivation, husbandry
Land rights, rural society, land reforms
Usage in Sentences
Related to specific farming activities
Pertains to broader issues of land and society
Compare with Definitions
Agricultural
Pertaining to the science of cultivating land.
Agricultural research has improved crop yields.
Agrarian
Concerning the distribution of rural land.
Agrarian policies can influence societal structures.
Agricultural
Relating to farming or cultivation.
The agricultural industry is vital for food production.
Agrarian
Involving rural or farm-based societies.
Agrarian societies often have close ties to the land.
Agricultural
Concerned with producing food and goods through farming.
Agricultural practices have evolved over the decades.
Agrarian
Of or relating to farmers and their way of life.
The agrarian culture is deeply rooted in tradition.
Agricultural
Involving the cultivation of plants and rearing of animals.
The region's agricultural output has increased.
Agrarian
Relating to land and its ownership.
The agrarian reforms transformed rural communities.
Agricultural
Associated with the activities of farming.
Agricultural tools have become more technologically advanced.
Agrarian
Pertaining to the relationship between people and land.
Agrarian practices shape the dynamics of rural communities.
Agricultural
The science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock; farming.
Agrarian
Relating to the cultivation of land; agricultural
An agrarian economy.
Agricultural
Of or pertaining to agriculture
The agricultural class
An agricultural tool
Agricultural show
Agrarian
Relating to or concerning the land and its ownership, cultivation, and tenure
Agrarian reform.
Agricultural
(cricket) As if played with a scythe
Agrarian
A person who favors equitable distribution of land.
Agricultural
A product or commodity from agriculture.
Agrarian
Of, or relating to, the ownership, tenure and cultivation of land.
Agricultural
Of or pertaining to agriculture; connected with, or engaged in, tillage; as, the agricultural class; agricultural implements, wages, etc.
Agrarian
Agricultural or rural.
Agricultural
Relating to or used in or promoting agriculture or farming;
Agricultural engineering
Modern agricultural (or farming) methods
Agricultural (or farm) equipment
An agricultural college
Agrarian
(botany) wild; said of plants growing in a cultivated field.
Agricultural
Relating to rural matters;
An agrarian (or agricultural) society
Farming communities
Agrarian
A person who advocates the political interests of working farmers
Agrarian
Pertaining to fields, or lands, or their tenure; esp., relating to an equal or equitable division of lands; as, the agrarian laws of Rome, which distributed the conquered and other public lands among citizens.
His Grace's landed possessions are irresistibly inviting to an agrarian experiment.
Agrarian
Wild; - said of plants growing in the fields.
Agrarian
One in favor of an equal division of landed property.
Agrarian
An agrarian law.
An equal agrarian is perpetual law.
Agrarian
Relating to rural matters;
An agrarian (or agricultural) society
Farming communities
Common Curiosities
What does agricultural primarily refer to?
It primarily refers to farming and its practices.
What might agrarian reforms address?
They might address land ownership rights and distribution in rural areas.
Can a technology be termed agricultural?
Yes, if it pertains to farming practices or methods.
Is agrarian solely about farming?
No, it's more about land, its ownership, and its role in rural societies.
Is agricultural more about action or policy?
It's more about action, like the act of farming.
What kind of advancements would be termed agricultural?
Advancements in farming methods or technologies.
Why are agrarian reforms important?
They can impact land distribution and the socio-economic structure of rural areas.
Can a society be termed agricultural?
Typically, a society would be termed agrarian if it's centered around land and farming.
Is every agrarian society agricultural?
While closely related, not necessarily. An agrarian society emphasizes land relations, not just farming.
Would land rights be an agricultural issue?
They would typically be classified as an agrarian issue.
Why might agrarian issues be contentious?
They often involve land rights, ownership, and socio-economic disparities in rural settings.
Which term has a deeper socio-political connotation?
Agrarian does, especially in the context of land reforms.
What subjects might agricultural studies cover?
Subjects like crop science, animal husbandry, and farm technology.
How do agricultural practices affect an economy?
They influence food production, exports, and employment in the farming sector.
Can a country be termed agricultural?
If its primary industry is farming, yes, but agrarian might be more fitting in a broader societal context.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
