mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-lənd
Synonyms of mainlandnext
: 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 How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-lən-
noun

Synonyms of mainland

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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.
The Hurricanes flew 2,575 air miles west for their season opener, the longest mainland trip for a conference matchup in all of FBS. — Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 Built along the former route of the Overseas Railroad, which connected the Florida Keys to the mainland in the early 1900s, the highway transformed travel to the islands after the railroad was damaged by a hurricane and eventually abandoned. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026 The Spanish government will also ask the EU to recognize Ceuta and Melilla as outermost regions of the bloc, a special designation that allows territories that are separate from mainland Europe to join the EU customs union, said Sánchez. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 For nearly a hundred years, mule deer have roamed across the scenic but fragile ecosystem of Catalina Island in Southern California, ultimately becoming an ecological fixture and tourist attraction for folks who visit from the mainland. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 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

Rhymes for mainland

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Cite this Entry

“Mainland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainland. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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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
honshu
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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mainland

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