mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland 

-lənd

: 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 

-lən-

noun

Synonyms of mainland

• continent

Examples of mainland in a Sentence

the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days

Recent Examples on the Web

She was raised on the mainland. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Stretching across 65 miles of Massachusetts coastline from Bourne and Falmouth near the mainland to Provincetown at the northern tip of the peninsula, Cape Cod is composed of 15 distinct towns. — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 27 June 2026

The footage has since gone viral on social media outside mainland China. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) marked 15 years of presence in Poland, celebrating a story of growth, partnership and impact that has helped advance the finance profession in Poland and across mainland Europe. — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mainland

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland 

-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 

-lənd

1

honshu

2

island in northern Scotland; largest of the Orkney Islands

3

island in northern Scotland; largest of the Shetland Islands