hinterland
noun
Did you know?
When you're dealing with geography, it helps to know your hinterland from your umland. In the late 19th century, geographer George Chisholm took note of the German word Hinterland (literally "land in back of") and applied it specifically to the region just inland from a port or coastal settlement. (Chisholm spelled the word hinderland, but English speakers eventually settled on hinterland.) Early in the 20th century, another geographer adopted the German Umland ("land around") to refer to the territory around an inland town. What hinterland and umland have in common is a reference to a region economically tied to a nearby city. Nowadays, hinterland has a less technical use as well—it can be used for land that is simply out in the sticks. It can also be applied figuratively.
Examples of hinterland in a Sentence
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Trade with the hinterland stopped as these coastal centers now preferred to trade with the Europeans.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
When your security relies on annually conscripting around 24,000 young people and sending them out into the Arctic hinterland, providing a strong sense of support — of home — isn’t mere kind-heartedness.
—Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Orlando was considered the hinterlands.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hinterland
Cite this Entry
“Hinterland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinterland. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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hinterland
noun
