Definition of backlandnext
as in countryside
usually backlands plural a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country they purposely vacationed in the backlands to get away from people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of backland But more migrants, moving farther into remote backlands to elude the Border Patrol, have died in scorching desert heat, a shameful indicator that enforcement is having an effect in many places. — Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024 His protagonist, living in direst poverty in Brazil’s arid backlands, decides to migrate to the wealthier coast. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Dec. 2019 Born in the arid backlands of Brazil’s north-east, Mr Gilberto arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1950 as a singer in one of the then-fashionable vocal ensembles. — The Economist, 11 July 2019 Tucked in the emerald backlands of Fayetteville, Georgia, inside a cavernous soundstage at Pinewood Studios, Mara Brock-Akil is in full field marshall mode. — Jason Parham, WIRED, 19 June 2018 Patrícia Santos da Silva, 24, and her family live in the city of Santana do Ipanema, in the western backlands of Alagoas. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Nov. 2017 Some escaped and formed clandestine communities in the backlands of the rainforest, independent villages known as quilombos. — Smithsonian, 21 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backland
Noun
  • Best Natural-Material Pillow The Six Bells Inn brings its cozy countryside aesthetic all the way to the bed, outfitting its guest rooms with Ostermoor mattresses, pillows, and duvets.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Located on a quiet lane, a stay here offers the best of the UK countryside with rolling hills and farmland on one side.
    — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In the fourth grade, Laura had suggested that the Jackrabbits’s meet in the loft rather than in the buggy bushes behind her house, but Carrie had refused.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Everywhere are cosseting details like stiffer mounting bushes and extra damping bars.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In any event, relocating an entertainment behemoth out of California, to some entertainment hinterland like those states, would be more complicated and certainly costly than staying put.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • At the very least, regionalism marked a spatial recalibration in the literary imaginary, away from European metropoles and national capitals and toward rural hinterlands.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Navigate the biodiverse backwaters of Choctawhatchee Bay or visit Destin, the perfect beach town for kiteboarding and snorkeling.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • No one predicted the sleepy backwater of Sassnitz would be rebranded ‘Crashnitz’ or ‘Smashnitz’ by the end of the first edition of the German Sail Grand Prix last year.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • These countries will face the costs of aging at much lower income levels than the advanced economies that aged before them, the report says, noting that in Europe, the same shift took several decades.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Some Southeast Asian countries are trying to leverage their strengths to capture more of the value chain.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In the sparsely populated Australian outback, help takes time to arrive.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • For a uniquely Australian experience, extend your trip inland with a stay at one of the region’s vast outback stations.
    — Stuart Rigg, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The largest funding rounds are going to the frontier labs and companies doing AI research.
    — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Near La Guajira’s border with Venezuela, the only police station for miles is a one-story, half-finished building in Castilletes, a few hundred meters from the frontier.
    — Nathan Jaccard, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

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“Backland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backland. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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