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

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.
Last month, Cyclone Chido claimed the lives of more than 100 people in Mozambique and Malawi after devastating the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte and making landfall on mainland Africa. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 The Southern Bridge that connects the nether end of tony Palm Beach Island to the mainland city of West Palm Beach was once a calm overpass where people strolled alongside Bentleys over the Intracoastal Waterway. Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2025 Despite this, mainland China’s benchmark CSI 300 fell 0.27% to 3,722.51, extending losses after having closed at its lowest level since September 2024 on Friday. Hakyung Kim,brian Evans, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2025 The rapid growth of Chinese influence in the canal began in 2017, the year that then-President Juan Carlos Varela cut ties with Taiwan and instead recognized the People’s Republic of China on the mainland. Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near mainland

Cite this Entry

“Mainland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainland. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

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
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

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