mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-lənd
: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula
mainlander noun

Examples of mainland in a Sentence

the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hundreds of thousands of native Puerto Ricans have left, most for the mainland. Graciela Mochkofsky, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2025 There’s no road connecting the 16-mile-long island to the mainland or any of the Outer Banks’s other islands, so the only way to reach it is via boat. Staff Author, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2025 While the most intense displays have occasionally been visible as far south as England and other parts of mainland Europe, traveling to Northern Scandinavia remains the best way for those in Europe to maximize their chances of witnessing this natural wonder in its full glory. David Nikel, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 Riviera Cruises gives passengers a taste of mainland Europe via waterways that have fostered trade and commerce for millennia. Ryan McCarthy, Saveur, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for mainland 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mainland was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mainland

Cite this Entry

“Mainland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainland. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

mainland

noun
main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-lənd
: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula
mainlander noun

Geographical Definition

Mainland

geographical name

Main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce Mainland (audio)
-lənd
1
2
island in northern Scotland; largest of the Orkney Islands
3
island in northern Scotland; largest of the Shetland Islands

More from Merriam-Webster on mainland

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!