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

Roberts, a mannerly conservative raised in the American Midwestern heartland, long has been seen as an institutionalist who preferred incremental change. —Jan Wolfe, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025

Walmart’s growth, coupled with investments from Walton and her family, has turned this former backwater into a heartland hotspot, known for mountain biking trails, a thriving art scene, and one of the country’s fastest-growing populations. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025

The next leap in technology is happening where energy and innovation intersect – in America’s heartland and within the research universities located there. —Michael Fitts, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Even agribusiness constituencies in the Brazilian heartland, long a Bolsonaro stronghold, recognize that Brazil cannot simply distance itself from Beijing. —Hussein Kalout, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 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