mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-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

Examples of mainland in a Sentence

the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days
Recent Examples on the Web In mainland China, national security laws have often ensnared both local and foreign businesses in opaque investigations. Chris Lau, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 Hong Kong is expanding the term to include information relating to the economic and social development of the city, as well as major policy decisions and scientific technology, mirroring mainland China’s language on state secrets. TIME, 19 Mar. 2024 Both the laws themselves and the way they were passed demonstrate how Hong Kong is being further remade in mainland China’s image, as Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made national security the government’s priority. Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 With over 300 staff across offices in Hong Kong, mainland China, Thailand and South Korea, the company manages every aspect of filmmaking from financing to distribution. Faye Bradley, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 Online ordering had also restarted in mainland China, according to a Weibo post. Shirley Zhao, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024 China, too, is locating production facilities outside of the mainland, in part, some say, to sidestep U.S. sanctions. Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China are all reporting falling birth rates as well. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 12 Mar. 2024 In recent years, Lau has worked primarily in the mainland Chinese industry on patriotic projects. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mainland.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mainland was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mainland

Cite this Entry

“Mainland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainland. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mainland

noun
main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-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 How to pronounce Mainland (audio)
-lənd
1
2
island in northern Scotland; largest of the Orkney Islands
3
island in northern Scotland; largest of the Shetland Islands

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