a rank growth of grass; uncultivated land or overgrown wilderness

the populace or folk life as opposed to officialdom, as in 草莽英雄 cǎo​mǎng​yīng​xióng

(figurative) outlaws or bandits who operate from the wild, such as in the phrase 草莽流寇 cǎo​mǎng​liú​kòu

living in the countryside or wilderness after resigning or refusing to serve in government