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

King’s daughter Janet Fenton still tends to her father’s beloved patch of wilderness. —Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025

His time in the political wilderness gave the GOP a cutting edge. —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 8 Feb. 2025

After unexpectedly awaking in the snowy wilderness of the Dieter Eagan National Forest, dressed to the nines in matching black fur coats and hats, the innies stumble upon an old-school TV cart. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025

The most famous ones involve Moses leading Israel out of Egyptian slavery into freedom, the tribes remaining in the wilderness for 40 years; and millennia later, after his baptism, Jesus entering a personal wilderness of fasting and prayer lasting 40 days before his public ministry. —Lynne Silva-Breen, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 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