wilderness

noun

wil·​der·​ness ˈwil-dər-nəs 

1

a(1)

: a tract or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings

(2)

: an area essentially undisturbed by human activity together with its naturally developed life community

b

: an empty or pathless area or region

in remote wildernesses of space groups of nebulae are found

—G. W. Gray †1960

c

: a part of a garden devoted to wild growth

2

obsolete : wild or uncultivated state

3

a

: a confusing multitude or mass : an indefinitely great number or quantity

I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys

—William Shakespeare

b

: a bewildering situation

those moral wildernesses of civilized life

—Norman Mailer

Synonyms

• nature
• open
• open air
• out-of-doors
• outdoors
• wild

Examples of wilderness in a Sentence

She enjoys hikes through the wilderness.

released the wolf back into the wilderness

Recent Examples on the Web

Speer's team excels at wilderness searches and is more than 160 strong, comprised of doctors, pilots, service members and one 78-year-old nuclear physicist. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 May 2025

In the picture, Charlotte grins outside while sporting hiking gear against a wilderness landscape. —Greta Bjornson, People.com, 2 May 2025

Set up camp before hiking the incredible boreal wilderness or simply taking a dip in the BWCA’s pristine waters. —Explore Minnesota, AFAR Media, 30 Apr. 2025

Comments Every time a flannel shirt is worn into the wilderness, the influence of Leon Lennonwood Bean is at play. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from wildern wild, from Old English wilddēoren of wild beasts

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing wilderness

• wilderness area

Kids Definition

wilderness

noun

wil·​der·​ness ˈwil-dər-nəs 

: an area in which few people live that is not used for farming and is more or less in its natural state