terrain

noun

ter·​rain tə-ˈrān 

also te-

1

a(1)

: a geographic area

(2)

: a piece of land : ground

b

: the physical features of a tract of land

2

: terrane sense 1

3

a

: a field of knowledge or interest

b

: environment, milieu

Synonyms of terrain

• area
• realm
• element
• field
• domain
• walk
• department
• sphere
• kingdom

Examples of terrain in a Sentence

We had to drive over some rough terrain.

We hiked through a variety of terrains.

Recent Examples on the Web

To get to the site on Friday, CNN’s team took flights into Laos before embarking on a 45-minute helicopter journey, a 30-minute drive and then a hike across rugged terrain. —CNN Money, 30 May 2026

Their system captured seasonal rainfall, controlled flash floods, and distributed water across difficult terrain with remarkable efficiency. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026

In April 1848, the surviving crew abandoned the vessels and tried escaping on foot and by dragging boats across the Arctic terrain, but no one survived. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026

Oliver actually skipped right over the all-terrain tires common on off-road trailers, giving the Apex the extra bite of mud terrains. —C.c. Weiss may 30, New Atlas, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, land, ground, from Old French terrein, from Vulgar Latin *terranum, alteration of Latin terrenum, from neuter of terrenus of earth — more at terrene

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing terrain

• all-terrain vehicle

Rhymes for terrain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

terrain

noun

ter·​rain tə-ˈrān 

also te-

: the surface features of an area of land

rough terrain