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mainland
noun
main·land
ˈmān-ˌland
-lənd
: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula
Examples of mainland in a Sentence
the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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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
-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
-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
Nglish: Translation of mainland for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of mainland for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mainland
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