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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On the southern tip of the Isle of Skye, where the mainland lies just across a narrow strait, the weather can turn in minutes. Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 The method was also widely used in mainland China until government regulations started calling for steel and aluminum scaffolds, in keeping with international norms, in the 1990s. Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025 Nea Styra is a small coastal town on the southern tip of Evia, Greece's second-largest island, known for its beaches, fishing harbor, and ferry link to the mainland town of Agia Marina in Attica. Shane Croucher john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025 Though no roads connect the islands (each is reached from the mainland by road or ferry), there's a lot to explore between 10 communities, six sandy beaches, and multiple creeks and salt marshes. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mainland

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

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Mainland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainland. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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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