mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland 

-lənd

: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula

mainlander

ˈmān-ˌlan-dər 

-lən-

noun

Synonyms of mainland

• continent

Examples of mainland in a Sentence

the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days

Recent Examples on the Web

Hurricane Polo made landfall in Baja California overnight and is expected to make a second landfall on the mainland of Mexico on Tuesday. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Mexico’s government issued a hurricane warning along the coast of mainland Mexico from Huatabampito to Guaymas. — Eugene Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

The United States is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with sufficient hardware to deter any armed attack from the mainland. — Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026

Millions of people were under warnings associated with the storm, which has already canceled concerts and prompted people on islands near Cape Cod to head to the mainland in the days ahead of the nor’easter’s arrival. — Kimberlee Kruesi, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mainland

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

Kids Definition

mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland 

-lənd

: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula

mainlander noun

Geographical Definition

Mainland

geographical name

Main·​land ˈmān-ˌland 

-lənd

1

honshu

2

island in northern Scotland; largest of the Orkney Islands

3

island in northern Scotland; largest of the Shetland Islands