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

• continent
• landmass
• main

Examples of mainland in a Sentence

the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days

Recent Examples on the Web

Blizzard suspended most online game services and sales in mainland China when the prior pact expired more than a year ago, cutting off a lucrative collaboration for both parties. —Sabrina Mao, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024

These missiles can reach Chinese ships in the Taiwan Strait and likely also the command-and-control nodes and air defense systems along the coast of mainland China. —Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024

Cinema chains in mainland China and in Thailand have revealed plans to expand their park of Imax premium large format screens. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024

Tasmania is an island state off the southeastern coast of Australia, about 150 miles from the mainland. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024

Warhol began creating portraits of Mao in 1972, when Richard Nixon famously became the first American president to visit mainland China, reestablishing diplomatic relations after 25 years of isolation. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Firms listed in mainland China repurchased 120 billion yuan ($16.6 billion) worth of stocks, more than doubling the amount spent in 2022, according to government statistics. —Laura He, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024

Americans in the path of totality, which will cross the mainland from Texas through Maine, will experience a few minutes of night-like darkness in the middle of the day — and for that brief time, some have planned once-in-a-lifetime moments. —Luis Giraldo, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024

The community, which is connected to the mainland via a short bridge, sports a private 18-hole golf course, and residents have access to the country club. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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