A swath is a long strip or area of something, like a wide path cut through a field of tall grass. When a farmer mows hay, the mower cuts down a swath of grass with each pass, leaving a clear strip behind. You might see swaths of wildflowers blooming across a hillside, or swaths of autumn leaves covering the ground in distinct bands of red and gold.

The word often describes something that covers or affects a large area. A tornado might destroy a swath of homes along its path. A forest fire could burn through a swath of woodland. When a new highway gets built, it sometimes cuts a swath through farmland or forest.

People also use swath figuratively to talk about range or variety. A museum might appeal to a broad swath of visitors, meaning many different kinds of people enjoy it. A politician might win support from a wide swath of voters, from different backgrounds and beliefs.

The phrase cut a swath means to move through something in a way that's noticeable and often impressive or destructive: “The new student cut a swath at the science fair with her incredible volcano experiment.”