Standard Lemma guide

ruderal

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

That grows in rubbish or poor soil

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any plant growing in rubbish or very poor soil

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A plant tending to volunteer in disturbed soil.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin rūderālis, from Latin rūdus (“rubble”).

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: ruderal — grows in poor soil
  • Dutch: ruderaal — grows in poor soil
  • French: rudéral — grows in poor soil
  • Italian: ruderale — grows in poor soil
  • Portuguese: ruderal — grows in poor soil
  • Spanish: ruderal — grows in poor soil