heartland

noun

heart·​land ˈhärt-ˌland 

: a central area: such as

a

: a central land area (such as northern Eurasia) having strategic advantages

b

: the central geographical region of the U.S. in which mainstream or traditional values predominate

c

: a region where something (such as an industry or activity) most strongly thrives

the heartland of high technology

Examples of heartland in a Sentence

We drove into Scotland's heartland.

a politician who is popular in the American heartland

the heartland of high technology

Recent Examples on the Web

The focus is on Campania, a region described as Italy’s culinary heartland, certainly high praise in a country that is incredibly serious about its food. —Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Like Dylan, at that time, Nelson also had been following the news of the family farming crisis that was devastating the heartland of the United States. —Thom Duffy, Billboard, 14 July 2025

Country-ness is informed by the stories and experiences retained — physically and spiritually — from the heartland. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025

Nonetheless, in recent months the situation deteriorated rapidly in the Druze heartland. —Güneş Murat Tezcür, The Conversation, 23 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heartland

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

heartland

noun

heart·​land ˈhärt-ˌland 

: a central land area

especially : one of great economic and military importance