green revolution: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Academic, journalistic, historical
Quick answer
What does “green revolution” mean?
A significant increase in agricultural production in developing countries in the mid-20th century, achieved through the introduction of high-yield crop varieties, modern farming techniques, and chemical inputs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A significant increase in agricultural production in developing countries in the mid-20th century, achieved through the introduction of high-yield crop varieties, modern farming techniques, and chemical inputs.
Any major transformation in agriculture aimed at dramatically increasing food production. Can also refer more broadly to a large-scale shift toward environmentally sustainable technologies and practices, though this is often termed "Green Revolution 2.0" or "Evergreen Revolution."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Usage is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to greater prominence in historical narratives of development in Asia and Latin America.
Grammar
How to Use “green revolution” in a Sentence
The Green Revolution in [country/region]a green revolution in [sector, e.g., energy]to spark/trigger/lead a green revolutionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “green revolution” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The region aims to green-revolutionise its farming sector within a decade.
- They were green-revolutionising wheat production.
American English
- The foundation worked to green-revolutionize agriculture in the developing world.
- The new seeds helped green-revolutionize the valley's output.
adverb
British English
- The country developed its agriculture green-revolution-style.
American English
- Farming changed green-revolution-fast in the 1970s.
adjective
British English
- The green-revolution era saw a dramatic population increase.
- Post-green-revolution challenges included soil degradation.
American English
- Green-Revolution technologies spread rapidly.
- He studied green-revolution impacts on rural communities.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agribusiness and investment contexts discussing innovations in food production.
Academic
Frequent in history, economics, development studies, and agricultural science.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; appears in news and documentaries.
Technical
Precise historical term in agronomy and development economics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “green revolution”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “green revolution”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “green revolution”
- Using lower case when referring specifically to the mid-20th century event (Green Revolution).
- Confusing it with the 'environmental/green movement'.
- Misspelling as 'green evolution' which implies slower change.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it was a package including high-yield varieties, irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides.
Agronomist Norman Borlaug is often called the 'father of the Green Revolution' for his work on dwarf wheat.
It is widely credited with preventing mass famine and increasing food production but is also criticized for environmental damage and increasing inequality.
Yes, but it's often qualified (e.g., 'new green revolution', 'Green Revolution 2.0') to avoid confusion with the historical period.
A significant increase in agricultural production in developing countries in the mid-20th century, achieved through the introduction of high-yield crop varieties, modern farming techniques, and chemical inputs.
Green revolution is usually academic, journalistic, historical in register.
Green revolution: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡriːn revəˈluːʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrin ˌrɛvəˈluʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of fields turning GREEN with incredibly high-yielding new crops, REVOLUTIONising how a nation feeds itself.
Conceptual Metaphor
REVOLUTION IS RAPID, WIDESPREAD CHANGE (applied to agriculture/color 'green').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most closely associated with the original Green Revolution?