cash crop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral; common in agricultural, economic, and geographic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “cash crop” mean?
An agricultural crop that is grown primarily for sale to generate profit, rather than for the farmer's own use (subsistence).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An agricultural crop that is grown primarily for sale to generate profit, rather than for the farmer's own use (subsistence).
Any primary economic activity in a region that generates a significant portion of income, often exported. It can be used metaphorically for any product or activity pursued mainly for financial gain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic or usage differences. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both British and American English within relevant contexts (agriculture, economics, development studies).
Grammar
How to Use “cash crop” in a Sentence
[Region/Country] grows [cash crop] as its main cash crop.[Cash crop] is the dominant cash crop in [region].Farmers switched from subsistence farming to cultivating cash crops.The economy relies heavily on cash crop exports.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cash crop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Cash-crop' as a verb is extremely rare and non-standard in British English.
American English
- 'Cash-crop' as a verb is extremely rare and non-standard in American English.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form derived from 'cash crop'.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form derived from 'cash crop'.]
adjective
British English
- A cash-crop economy
- Cash-crop agriculture
American English
- A cash-crop economy
- Cash-crop agriculture
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in terms of supply chains, commodity prices, and export revenues.
Academic
Common in agricultural economics, development studies, geography, and history (e.g., 'the colonial cash crop economy').
Everyday
Used in news reports about farming, trade, or economic development in agricultural regions.
Technical
Precise agronomic term distinguishing crops by their economic purpose.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cash crop”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cash crop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cash crop”
- Confusing it with 'catch crop'. Using it as a verb ('to cash crop' is non-standard). Misspelling as 'cache crop'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently. It is a neutral economic/agricultural classification. However, it can be used in critical contexts discussing economic dependency or environmental issues linked to monoculture.
A 'cash crop' is grown to be sold. A 'food crop' is grown to be eaten. They can be the same plant (e.g., wheat can be a food crop for a subsistence farmer or a cash crop if sold at market). The distinction is based on the grower's primary intent.
Yes, metaphorically. For example, 'For the university, football has become a major cash crop,' meaning it generates significant revenue.
Coffee, tea, cocoa, cotton, sugar cane, tobacco, rubber, palm oil, and cut flowers are classic global examples. Regionally, it could be olives, grapes for wine, or certain spices.
An agricultural crop that is grown primarily for sale to generate profit, rather than for the farmer's own use (subsistence).
Cash crop is usually formal to neutral; common in agricultural, economic, and geographic contexts. in register.
Cash crop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæʃ ˌkrɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæʃ ˌkrɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly idiomatic. The term itself is a fixed compound noun.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a farmer selling a crop for CASH at the market, not taking it home to eat. CASH is the goal of the CROP.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGRICULTURE IS COMMERCE; PLANTS ARE COMMODITIES.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining characteristic of a cash crop?