frontier

noun

fron·tier | \ ˌfrən-ˈtir

, ˈfrən-ˌtir, frän-ˈtir, ˈfrän-ˌtir

Definition of frontier

1a : a border between two countries the frontier between Canada and the U.S.

b obsolete : a stronghold on a frontier

2a : a region that forms the margin of settled or developed territory were sent on an expedition to explore the western frontier

b : the farthermost limits of knowledge or achievement in a particular subject frontiers in immunology

c : a line of division between different or opposed things the frontiers separating science and the humanities— R. W. Clark

d : a new field for exploitative or developmental activity … the brain lies before us as one of the last scientific frontiers here on earth.— Robert Klitzman

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Examples of frontier in a Sentence

the frontier between Canada and the U.S. They were sent on an expedition to explore the western frontier.

Recent Examples on the Web

With gene therapy surfacing as perhaps the most imminent frontier, working inside the double helixes could render many of our medical modalities laughable. — Katie Kosma, Longreads, "Gene Therapy: God Discusses Its Future Possibilities," 6 July 2018 Unlike Wyoming, though, the internet still seems capable of blasting open new and dangerous frontiers, from botnet swarms to deep state hacks. — Jesse Jarnow, WIRED, "The Ghost of John Perry Barlow Lives in His Posthumous Memoir," 5 June 2018 Determined and uncompromising, Walker's Cheyenne meandered alone through the post-Civil War frontier, helping those in distress with his innumerable strength, gentle spirit and unwavering practicality. — Matt Wyatt, Houston Chronicle, "Actor Clint Walker, star of TV show 'Cheyenne,' dead at 90," 22 May 2018 Legal experts say his case might actually push #MeToo into a new frontier, impacting how the criminal justice system treats such cases. — Philly.com, "How Cosby verdict could signal #MeToo impact on criminal justice system," 28 Apr. 2018 Cerebral Mercury enters Aries on Wednesday, April 17, putting more of your mental focus on the home frontier. — Randon Rosenbohm, Allure, "What April’s Capricorn Horoscope Means for You," 31 Mar. 2019 Chef Amos Watts, raised in Nebraska, land of the corn-fed, has taken to the new old-beef frontier with the zeal of a convert. — Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, "The Secret to This Dish's Deep Flavor," 18 Oct. 2018 By July 1871, the army’s strength stood at only 30,000, with most of those posted to the Western frontier; only 4,300 soldiers were on duty in posts in the South, and even then, mostly in major port or railroad cities. — Allen C. Guelzo, Time, "Reconstruction Didn't Fail. It Was Overthrown," 30 Apr. 2018 The two sides are still poles apart in key areas, in particular how to avoid a border emerging on the divided island of Ireland when Northern Ireland becomes home to the U.K.’s land frontier with the EU. — Bloomberg.com, "Bloomberg," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'frontier.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.