Ask Difference

Plain vs. Prairie — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 15, 2024
A plain is a large, flat expanse of land with few changes in elevation, often found in both humid and arid environments, whereas a prairie is a specific type of plain characterized by its grassland ecosystem, typically found in North America.
Plain vs. Prairie — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Plain and Prairie

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Key Differences

Plains are expansive flat or gently undulating areas of land that can exist in various climates and are not necessarily defined by a specific type of vegetation. In contrast, prairies are specifically large areas of flat or rolling grassland predominantly found in North America, characterized by tall grasses and a temperate climate.
The vegetation in plains can vary widely from grasslands to deserts, depending on the local climate and geography. Whereas prairies are specifically dominated by grasses and few trees, mainly because of their adequate rainfall that supports grass but not forests.
Plains may be found in continental interiors, coastal regions, or at the bases of mountain ranges, showing a wide range of geographical settings. On the other hand, prairies are primarily located in the Great Plains of the United States and Canada, confined to a specific geographical and climatic zone.
Plains are often utilized for agriculture due to their fertile soils and flat terrain, making them ideal for farming and grazing. Meanwhile, prairies are particularly noted for sustainable agriculture and ranching, especially where native grasses are preserved.
The term "plain" can apply globally to any flat region, regardless of vegetation or climate. In contrast, "prairie" specifically refers to the grassland biome of North America, which supports a unique ecosystem of plants and animals adapted to its conditions.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

A broad, flat, or gently rolling area of land.
A type of plain characterized by extensive grasslands in North America.

Vegetation

Can vary widely, including grassland, desert, or forest.
Dominated by tall and short grasses, with few trees.

Location

Found worldwide in various climates.
Primarily located in the Great Plains of the United States and Canada.

Climate

Can be arid, semi-arid, humid, etc.
Mostly temperate, with adequate rainfall for grass but not forests.

Usage

Diverse, including agriculture, urban development, etc.
Focused on agriculture, particularly ranching and preservation of native grasses.

Compare with Definitions

Plain

Often used in geography to describe flat terrains.
The flood plains of the river are fertile but prone to flooding.

Prairie

A large open area of grassland, especially in the Mississippi River valley.
Buffalo once roamed the prairies in large numbers.

Plain

A large area of flat land with few trees.
The Serengeti Plain is renowned for its vast wildlife.

Prairie

Supports diverse fauna adapted to grassland life.
Prairie dogs and bison are iconic species of the prairie ecosystem.

Plain

Can include various ecosystems depending on the region.
The coastal plain supports a different type of biodiversity.

Prairie

Characterized by tall grasses, suitable for grazing.
The prairie was a sea of grass waving in the wind.

Plain

An area of simple or unadorned nature.
The artist was captivated by the stark beauty of the desert plain.

Prairie

Prone to natural phenomena like wildfires.
Wildfires play a natural role in the ecology of the prairie.

Plain

Suitable for various human activities like farming.
They farmed on the rich plains of the Midwest.

Prairie

Culturally significant in American history.
The expansion into the prairie was a pivotal era in American settlement.

Plain

In geography, a plain is a flat expanse of land that generally does not change much in elevation, and are primarily treeless. Plains occur as lowlands along valleys or at the base of mountains, as coastal plains, and as plateaus or uplands.In a valley, a plain is enclosed on two sides, but in other cases a plain may be delineated by a complete or partial ring of hills, by mountains, or by cliffs.

Prairie

Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type. Temperate grassland regions include the Pampas of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, and the steppe of Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Plain

Not decorated or elaborate; simple or basic in character
Everyone dined at a plain wooden table
Good plain food

Prairie

An extensive flat or rolling area dominated by grasses, especially the grasslands that once covered much of central North America.

Plain

Having no pretensions; not remarkable or special
A plain, honest man with no nonsense about him

Prairie

An extensive area of relatively flat grassland with few, if any, trees, especially in North America.

Plain

Easy to perceive or understand; clear
The advantages were plain to see
It was plain that something was wrong

Prairie

An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually characterized by a deep, fertile soil. They abound throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies and the Rocky mountains.
From the forests and the prairies,From the great lakes of the northland.

Plain

(of a person) not beautiful or attractive
A plain, round-faced woman

Prairie

A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called natural meadow.

Plain

Sheer; simple (used for emphasis)
The main problem is just plain exhaustion

Prairie

A treeless grassy plain

Plain

Denoting or relating to a type of knitting stitch produced by putting the needle through the front of each stitch from left to right.

Plain

Used for emphasis
Perhaps the youth was just plain stupid

Plain

Clearly or unequivocally
I'm finished with you, I'll tell you plain

Plain

A large area of flat land with few trees
The coastal plain

Plain

Mourn or lament.

Plain

Free from obstructions; open; clear
In plain view.

Plain

Obvious to the perception or mind; evident
Make one's intention plain.

Plain

Not elaborate or complicated; simple
Plain food.

Plain

Marked by little or no ornamentation or decoration
Plain garb.

Plain

Straightforward; frank or candid
Plain talk.

Plain

Not pretentious; unaffected.

Plain

Lacking beauty or distinction
A plain face.

Plain

Not mixed with other substances; pure
Plain water.

Plain

Common in rank or station; average; ordinary
A plain man.

Plain

Not dyed, twilled, or patterned
A plain fabric.

Plain

Sheer; utter; unqualified
Plain stupidity.

Plain

(Archaic) Having no visible elevation or depression; flat; level.

Plain

Often plains An extensive, level, usually treeless area of land.

Plain

A broad level expanse, as a part of the sea floor or a lunar mare.

Plain

Something free of ornamentation or extraneous matter.

Plain

Clearly; simply
Plain stubborn.

Plain

Flat, level.

Plain

Simple, unaltered.

Plain

Ordinary; lacking adornment or ornamentation; unembellished.
He was dressed simply in plain black clothes.
A plain tune

Plain

Of just one colour; lacking a pattern.
A plain pink polycotton skirt

Plain

Simple in habits or qualities; unsophisticated, not exceptional, ordinary.
They're just plain people like you or me.

Plain

(of food) Having only few ingredients, or no additional ingredients or seasonings; not elaborate, without toppings or extras.
Would you like a poppy bagel or a plain bagel?

Plain

(computing) Containing no extended or nonprinting characters (especially in plain text).

Plain

Obvious.

Plain

Evident to one's senses or reason; manifest, clear, unmistakable.

Plain

Downright; total, unmistakable (as intensifier).
His answer was just plain nonsense.

Plain

Open.

Plain

Honest and without deception; candid, open; blunt.
Let me be plain with you: I don't like her.

Plain

Clear; unencumbered; equal; fair.

Plain

Not unusually beautiful; unattractive.
Throughout high school she worried that she had a rather plain face.

Plain

(card games) Not a trump.

Plain

(obsolete) Full, complete in number or extent.

Plain

(colloquial) Simply.
It was just plain stupid.
I plain forgot.

Plain

(archaic) Plainly; distinctly.
Tell me plain: do you love me or no?

Plain

A lamentation.

Plain

An expanse of land with relatively low relief, usually exclusive of forests, deserts, and wastelands.

Plain

(archaic) field in reference to a battlefield.

Plain

(obsolete) plane: a flat geometric field.

Plain

To complain.

Plain

To lament, bewail.
To plain a loss

Plain

To level; to raze; to make plain or even on the surface.

Plain

To make plain or manifest; to explain.

Plain

To lament; to bewail; to complain.
We with piteous heart unto you pleyne.

Plain

To lament; to mourn over; as, to plain a loss.

Plain

To plane or level; to make plain or even on the surface.
We would rake Europe rather, plain the East.

Plain

To make plain or manifest; to explain.
What's dumb in show, I'll plain in speech.

Plain

Without elevations or depressions; flat; level; smooth; even. See Plane.
The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.

Plain

Open; clear; unencumbered; equal; fair.
Our troops beat an army in plain fight.

Plain

Not intricate or difficult; evident; manifest; obvious; clear; unmistakable.

Plain

Void of extraneous beauty or ornament; without conspicious embellishment; not rich; simple.

Plain

In a plain manner; plainly.

Plain

Level land; usually, an open field or a broad stretch of land with an even surface, or a surface little varied by inequalities; as, the plain of Jordan; the American plains, or prairies.
Descending fro the mountain into playn.
Him the AmmoniteWorshiped in Rabba and her watery plain.

Plain

A field of battle.
Lead forth my soldiers to the plain.

Plain

Extensive tract of level open land;
They emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain
He longed for the fields of his youth

Plain

A basic knitting stitch

Plain

Express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness;
My mother complains all day
She has a lot to kick about

Plain

Clearly apparent or obvious to the mind or senses;
The effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields
Evident hostility
Manifest disapproval
Patent advantages
Made his meaning plain
It is plain that he is no reactionary
In plain view

Plain

Not elaborate or elaborated; simple;
Plain food
Stuck to the plain facts
A plain blue suit
A plain rectangular brick building

Plain

Lacking patterns especially in color

Plain

Not mixed with extraneous elements;
Plain water
Sheer wine
Not an unmixed blessing

Plain

Free from any effort to soften to disguise;
The plain and unvarnished truth
The unvarnished candor of old people and children

Plain

Lacking embellishment or ornamentation;
A plain hair style
Unembellished white walls
Functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete

Plain

Lacking stylistic embellishment;
A literal description
Wrote good but plain prose
A plain unadorned account of the coronation
A forthright unembellished style

Plain

Comprehensible to the general public;
Written for the popular press in plain nontechnical language

Plain

Lacking in physical beauty or proportion;
A homely child
Several of the buildings were downright homely
A plain girl with a freckled face

Plain

Unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly');
The answer is obviously wrong
She was in bed and evidently in great pain
He was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list
It is all patently nonsense
She has apparently been living here for some time
I thought he owned the property, but apparently not
You are plainly wrong
He is plain stubborn

Common Curiosities

Can plains be found outside of North America?

Yes, plains are found worldwide.

What climate do prairies typically have?

Temperate with enough rainfall for grass but not enough for forests.

What is a prairie?

A specific type of plain characterized by grassland in North America.

Are all plains grassy like prairies?

No, plains can have various types of vegetation, including deserts and forests.

Are plains important for biodiversity?

Yes, depending on their ecosystem, they can support diverse flora and fauna.

What challenges do prairies face today?

Threats include agricultural expansion, urbanization, and climate change.

What is a plain?

A large, flat, or gently undulating area of land that can exist in various climates.

Can prairies be found in urban areas?

Generally, prairies are located in rural areas, but prairie restoration efforts exist in some urban settings.

Do prairies support any unique wildlife?

Yes, including species like bison and prairie dogs.

What historical significance do prairies hold in America?

They were central to the westward expansion and settlement of the U.S.

How are plains used by humans?

For agriculture, urban development, and other activities.

What makes prairies unique in North America?

They are large grasslands with specific types of grass and a unique ecosystem.

What role do plains play in the global ecosystem?

They are crucial for agriculture and are habitats for diverse wildlife.

How are prairies affected by wildfires?

Wildfires are a natural part of prairie ecology, helping to renew grasslands.

How can prairies be preserved?

Through sustainable management practices and conservation efforts.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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