1. a water-saturated, poorly drained wetland area, periodically or permanently inundated, that supports an extensive cover of emergent, nonwoody vegetation essentially without peatlike accumulations 2. a wetland characterized by a predominantly inorganic soil, supporting nonwoody vegetation, characteristically rushes, reeds, cattails, or sedges —note the water may be salt, brackish, or fresh —see bog, fen, flat, swampThis definition last updated 07/14/2008