wilderness area

noun

often capitalized W&A
: an often large tract of public land maintained essentially in its natural state and protected against introduction of intrusive artifacts (such as roads and buildings)

Examples of wilderness area in a Sentence

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.
State and federal agencies are limited in their ability to fence off aspen stands in the wilderness area, so forest managers have turned to these hunting permits as a tool to help the young aspen in reaching maturity. John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 18 Nov. 2024 And if that's not enough, the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness area, the largest contiguous wilderness area in the Lower 48, lies just east of McCall. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2024 There’s heaps to see on down days from breweries to galleries, all surrounded by vast, cascading peaks and untouched nature (notably, the state’s largest wilderness area: the High Peaks). Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2024 No campfires in backcountry or wilderness areas, including primitive camping areas without developed campsites. Buffalo National River, arkansasonline.com, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wilderness area 

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wilderness area was in 1928

Dictionary Entries Near wilderness area

Cite this Entry

“Wilderness area.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wilderness%20area. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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!