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

The pines most likely survived here because of the cool, moist air from the persistent island fog and because of the limited competition from other plants-due to the island’s isolation, a smaller number of plant species exist on the island as compared to the mainland. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026

Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan, once one of Asia's richest persons, this month pleaded guilty to charges including fraud and bribery in a mainland Chinese court after being detained in China. —ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026

Strait of Messina This strait separates Sicily from the Italian mainland and connects the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas in the Mediterranean. —Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026

Ortea Palace Hotel, Autograph Collection Set in a former 1920s post office, Ortea Palace Hotel is conveniently located right across the bridge from mainland Syracuse and is considered one of the best hotels in Sicily. —Michele Becker, Travel + Leisure, 23 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