terra incognita
noun
-in-ˈkäg-nə-tə
Did you know?
When Roman mapmakers drew a land area that no one had yet explored, they often labeled it "Terra Incognita"—that is, "Unknown Territory"—and the term continued to be used for centuries afterward. When Columbus and his successors first crossed the Atlantic, they entered upon terra incognita, a land that came to be called the "New World". But the term is just as useful for mental exploration. For most of us, subjects such as particle physics, French 17th-century drama, and soil mechanics are terra incognita, and we can only hope to live long enough to be able to explore some of them someday.
Examples of terra incognita in a Sentence
Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
The historic outdoor auction served as a portal into the Saudi art and luxury markets (terra incognita for international auction houses), and it will be appraised against the long-term success of Sotheby’s in the country.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 10 Feb. 2025
There’s like 10 points of light, 10 equations among these thousands that have been studied reasonably well, and then there’s this whole terra incognita.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2024
Discovering a world of middle eastern cuisine that was terra incognita to Americans, Nathan decided to compile a cookbook, The Flavor of Jerusalem, which showcased Jewish, Muslim and Christian dishes.
—Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for terra incognita
Cite this Entry
“Terra incognita.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terra%20incognita. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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