headland

noun

head·​land ˈhed-lənd 

-ˌland

1

: unplowed land at the ends of furrows or near a fence

2

: a point of usually high land jutting out into a body of water : promontory

Synonyms

• peninsula
• promontory

Examples of headland in a Sentence

the lighthouse, situated on a narrow, rocky headland, commands an expansive view of the coast

navigation is notoriously difficult at the southernmost tip of South America, where ships must round the headland of Cape Horn

Recent Examples on the Web

The property off Highway 1 resembles your own private headlands park with unparalleled panoramic views of the sea arches and the coastline. —David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2025

The Oregon Coast Trail, Oregon Distance: Up to 425 miles The Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) sounds too good to be true: More than 400 miles of hiking along the Pacific Northwest’s coastal headlands, bouncing between isolated beaches, cliff tops, dense rain forests and the occasional fishing village. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 30 May 2025

Its stretches of sandy shoreline include Castle Beach, with the ruins of Tenby Castle on a headland overlooking the harbor. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

One of them pointed me to a path that led over the headland to Karthea, one of the island’s ancient city-states. —Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

headland

noun

head·​land ˈhed-lənd 

-ˌland

: a point of land sticking out into the sea : promontory