mainland

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

mainlander

2 of 2

noun (2)

main·​land·​er -də(r) 

plural -s

: a dweller on the mainland

any mainlander—Hawaii's term for a resident of continental United States—will find its stores … stocked with the latest mainland fashions

—Jack Teehan

Synonyms of mainland

Noun (1)

• continent

Examples of mainland in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The species is now endangered, extinct on the Australian mainland for three thousand years and besieged on the island that is its last refuge. — John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Many places like South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China are battling demographic crises as birth rates fall and elderly populations swell. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 July 2026

Separated from mainland Miami by Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach has long been one of the country’s most iconic seaside destinations, known for its white-sand beaches, colorful Art Deco architecture, and vibrant dining and nightlife scene. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2026

Wells' friends returned to the mainland that afternoon without him. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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