Fifeshire, a peninsular county of Scotland, bounded N., E., and S. by the frith of Tay, the North sea,, and the frith of Forth, and W. by the counties of Clackmannan, Perth, and Kinross; area, 513 sq. m.; pop. in 1871, 160,310. The surface of the county is much diversified. The chief mountains are the Lomond hills, Largo Law, and Norman Law. The soil is of various quality, but so productive in general that fully two thirds of the whole is under cultivation. Agriculture is in a very advanced state.

The Fife breed of cattle have long been celebrated, and are in high repute both at home and in the English markets. Coal, iron, limestone, and freestone are abundant. Coal has been worked for several centuries, but ironstone, especially that called blackband, is of recent discovery. The principal manufacture is linen, which is carried on very extensively at Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy. There are salmon fisheries in several of the rivers, and herring, cod, turbot, and haddock fisheries on the coasts. The principal towns are Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Cupar, Dysart, and St. Andrews.