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

ˈmān-ˌlan-dər 

-lən-

noun

Synonyms

• continent
• landmass
• main

Examples of mainland in a Sentence

the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days

Recent Examples on the Web

To put that tally into context, the whole of the U.K. has 10 and the total for mainland China is four. —Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025

The plane was scheduled to fly to La Ceiba airport on the Honduran mainland. —Joan Humberto Suazo, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025

Lee, through his Lee Shau Kee Foundation, also gifted more than HK$1 billion ($128 million) and 600 million yuan ($83 million) to universities in Hong Kong and mainland China, respectively. —Zinnia Lee, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

While partying on the mainland with fellow White Lotus guest Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and her new friend Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), the four took a mystery pill, which ultimately led to a trippy after-party on Chloe’s yacht. —Liza Esquibias, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mainland

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

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

honshu

2

island in northern Scotland; largest of the Orkney Islands

3

island in northern Scotland; largest of the Shetland Islands