terrain

noun

ter·​rain tə-ˈrān 

also te-

1

a(1)

: a geographic area

(2)

: a piece of land : ground

b

: the physical features of a tract of land

2

: terrane sense 1

3

a

: a field of knowledge or interest

b

: environment, milieu

Synonyms of terrain

• area
• realm
• element
• field
• domain
• walk
• department
• sphere
• kingdom

Examples of terrain in a Sentence

We had to drive over some rough terrain.

We hiked through a variety of terrains.

Recent Examples on the Web

In their ground assaults through that terrain, the Russians now prefer to advance on foot, sometimes using motorcycles, electric scooters, or even horses—all of which have a better chance than a tank of escaping the notice of a Ukrainian drone. —Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026

Jeep boosted the donor vehicle’s ride height by two inches, equipped it with wider fender flares to accommodate its 33-inch all-terrain tires, and added a custom cooler disguised like an old Apple Macintosh Plus. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2026

The wash-and-ridge terrain includes dunes and a sand bowl. —Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026

The wheels kick up a cloud of dust from the parchment-dry terrain. —Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, land, ground, from Old French terrein, from Vulgar Latin *terranum, alteration of Latin terrenum, from neuter of terrenus of earth — more at terrene

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing terrain

• all-terrain vehicle

Rhymes for terrain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

terrain

noun

ter·​rain tə-ˈrān 

also te-

: the surface features of an area of land

rough terrain