1
a
: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function
the digestive tract
b
: a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function
2
: an area either large or small: such as
a
: an indefinite stretch of land
b
: a defined area of land
3
: extent or lapse of time
: a pamphlet or leaflet of political or religious propaganda
also
: a piece of writing that is suggestive of such a tract
often capitalized
: verses of Scripture (as from the Psalms) used between the gradual and the Gospel at some masses (as during penitential seasons)
Synonyms
Examples of tract in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a vast and fertile tract of farmland
the town had planned on turning that tract of meadow into a park
had a number of small tracts for sale, but we couldn't afford to buy land and then build a house
Recent Examples on the Web
Venroy July, Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan. 2025
According to a 2018 study that assessed tens of thousands of census tracts across the U.S., majority Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities were found to have up to 50% higher susceptibility to wildfires in contrast to majority white communities.
—Jerel Ezell, TIME, 28 Jan. 2025
Pacific Palisades’ housing stock, much of it of the tract type, dates primarily to the 1930s and ’40s.
—Richard Olsen, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2025
Williams’ family farm in Georgia, for example, is one of the oldest centennial farms in the U.S, a designation given to tracts of land that have been owned by the same households for more than 100 years.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tract 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
In the early years after the passage of the law, Seigel and I were frequent speakers on panels along the East Coast regarding the potential of the law to revitalize communities like Baltimore, which had the potential benefit of having 42 census tracts designated as Opportunity Zones.
—Venroy July, Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan. 2025
According to a 2018 study that assessed tens of thousands of census tracts across the U.S., majority Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities were found to have up to 50% higher susceptibility to wildfires in contrast to majority white communities.
—Jerel Ezell, TIME, 28 Jan. 2025
Pacific Palisades’ housing stock, much of it of the tract type, dates primarily to the 1930s and ’40s.
—Richard Olsen, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2025
Williams’ family farm in Georgia, for example, is one of the oldest centennial farms in the U.S, a designation given to tracts of land that have been owned by the same households for more than 100 years.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tract
Articles Related to tract
Dictionary Entries Near tract
Cite this Entry
“Tract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tract. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tract
1 of 2 noun1
a
: an indefinite stretch of land
a large tract of forest
b
: a defined area of land
a garden tract
2
: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function
the digestive tract
tract
2 of 2 noun
: a pamphlet of political or religious ideas and beliefs
Medical Definition
tract
noun1
: a system of body parts or organs that act together to perform some function see also digestive tract, gastrointestinal tract, lower respiratory tract, upper respiratory tract
2
: a bundle of nerve fibers having a common origin, termination, and function and especially one within the spinal cord or brain
called also fiber tract
see also corticospinal tract, olfactory tract, optic tract, spinothalamic tractLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share