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

The new frontier of human brain augmentation has arrived. — Kafui Dzirasa, WIRED, "A New Approach to Treat Mental Illness: Electrical Engineering," 28 June 2019 The commotion reflects the lag in Europe's pro-marijuana movement compared to the recreational use frontiers of North America. — Colleen Barry, chicagotribune.com, "In Italy, ‘cannabis light’ is booming, though the weed is so weak it’s like decaf marijuana," 27 June 2019 So many American writers cling to a singular narrative of the country, one of plucky ambition, rugged-frontier individualism, and self-creation. — Syreeta Mcfadden, The Atlantic, "A Documentary That Shows Another Side of Toni Morrison," 25 June 2019 Barrett aims the hackathon to demonstrate that Cincinnati can draw upon a broad spectrum of brainpower to push the frontiers of cancer. — Anne Saker, Cincinnati.com, "Hackathon at UC focuses on cancer research; one possible solution won a $100,000 prize," 12 June 2019 That wider frame opens a new frontier for candidates such as U.S. Sens. — Nic Garcia, The Denver Post, "“Are all the white guys running together in people’s minds?” The unusual role identity is playing in the 2020 Democratic primary," 9 June 2019 Everything else Eileen Fisher is doing with old clothes, which happens in another room in the Tiny Factory, exists at the new frontier of recycling. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "In the Future, We’ll All Be Wearing Eileen Fisher," 29 May 2019 Purchased from Russia in 1867, the frontier attracted a flood of gold miners and church missionaries. — Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, "ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network," 16 May 2019 In the final stretch of the campaign, Netanyahu needs to keep the Israel-Gaza frontier quiet, without seeming to make concessions to Hamas. — Fares Akram, The Seattle Times, "Rockets from Gaza Strip hit Israel; 4 die at border protest," 31 Mar. 2019

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.