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

Founded in the mid-1990s by Hui, the company had over 90% of its assets on the Chinese mainland, according to the 2024 ruling. —ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

The Thirty Years’ War, which was concluded by the Peace of Westphalia, in 1648, spread across mainland Europe and killed some eight million people. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Rokid already generates 40% of its revenue outside mainland China, and aims to sell up to 1 million pairs this year, including through a collaboration with eyewear brand Bolon. —Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026

The island has no airport and is only reachable by a roughly 30-minute ferry from the mainland. —Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 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