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

• ness
• point
• 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

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

The eastern trade winds blow ceaselessly, driving steep swells that explode onto lava-rock headlands. —Peter Heller, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2024

Case in point: sea stacks, the remnants of headlands that have eroded over time. —Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 21 Apr. 2025

The proposal includes the creation of two artificial headlands or small promontories extending out on the beach to hold the sand in place. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 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