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

Kingston, meanwhile, works in frontier market investment as a director of Devonport Capital. — Andrea Park, Glamour, "Mark Your Calendars: Another Royal Wedding Is Happening," 19 Sep. 2018 With control over Daraa, government forces can now focus on clearing the last pockets of the opposition and, separately, the Islamic State group from the frontier at the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in a 1967 war. — Washington Post, "Syrian government raises its flag over cradle of 2011 revolt," 12 July 2018 To annoy the Qataris even more, the Saudis would also turn part of the frontier into a nuclear-waste dump. — The Economist, "Why Qatar is raising cows in the desert," 17 May 2018 Access is by Cessna from the airstrip at Shell, a steamy frontier town on the edge of the Amazon, and flights are impossible in rain, so patience is required on entry and exit. — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, "28 Places Our Travel Specialists Say You Should Go in 2019," 17 Dec. 2018 That, analysts and business leaders say, raises the possibility of tariffs, worker shortages and long frontier delays, including for sensitive products such as food and medicines. — Max Colchester, WSJ, "U.K.’s May Delays Brexit Vote in Face of Broad Opposition," 11 Dec. 2018 Indeed, many of the vignettes found in this fictionalized version of the American West are beautiful, and many of the real-world experiences of vagabonds and frontier folk are distilled into some exceptional arcs. — Daniel Starkey, Ars Technica, "Red Dead Redemption II review: Getting muddy in the wide-open frontier," 25 Oct. 2018 In neighboring Myanmar, the frontier regions are dominated by ethnic minority groups, but underdevelopment and conflict make opportunities scarce. — Johnson Lai, Fox News, "Statelessness a hurdle for some rescued Thai boys," 16 July 2018 Later in front of the House of the United States, Maggie Blansett, a local performer dressed as Betsy Ross, played frontier songs on an autoharp. — sandiegouniontribune.com, "July 5, 1976: San Diego celebrates U.S. Bicentennial," 5 July 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.