highland

1 of 2

noun

high·​land ˈhī-lənd 

: elevated or mountainous land

highland

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to a highland

2

Highland : of or relating to the Highlands of Scotland

Synonyms of highland

Noun

• hill
• mound
• upland
• mountain

Examples of highland in a Sentence

Noun

there are permanent glaciers in the cool, humid highlands of the Pacific Northwest

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The economics that made off-grid solar commercially viable in Africa now apply equally to rural Bangladesh, the Indonesian archipelago or the Peruvian highlands. — Yariv Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026

The young imam escaped from his battered palace, fled into the northern highlands, and began the traditional process of rallying the tribes to his cause. — Manfred W. Wenner, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Nov. 2026

Adjective

The highland town is surrounded by lush countryside in northern Sulawesi, home to the Minahasa people and an amazing diversity of wildlife. — The Economist, 26 May 2020

Maybe their bloodline spirits crossed, perhaps hundreds of years ago across a highland moor, their prey the red grouse. — Steve Meyer, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for highland

• dryland

Kids Definition

highland

1 of 2 noun

high·​land ˈhī-lənd 

: elevated or mountainous land

highland

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of or relating to a highland

2

capitalized : of or relating to the Highlands of Scotland

Geographical Definition

Highland

geographical name

High·​land ˈhī-lənd 

1

city in southeastern California east of San Bernardino

2

town in northwestern Indiana south of Hammond

3

administrative area of northern Scotland bordering the North Sea and the Atlantic area 9806 square miles (25,398 square kilometers)