wasteland

noun

waste·​land ˈwāst-ˌland How to pronounce wasteland (audio)
 also  -lənd
1
: barren or uncultivated land
a desert wasteland
2
: an ugly often devastated or barely inhabitable place or area
3
: something (such as a way of life) that is spiritually and emotionally arid and unsatisfying

Examples of wasteland in a Sentence

The outskirts of the city became a grim industrial wasteland. That part of the country is a cultural wasteland. the vast wasteland of television
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.
What was once an area of strength for Brazil has become a wasteland: none of the 65 or so options tested since the Qatar World Cup has made a compelling case for a starting spot. Jack Lang, New York Times, 16 May 2025 But now that the Trump administration has been firing thousands of scientists and cutting funding for scientific research, America is in danger of becoming a wasteland of culture and science indeed. Alexander Soifer, Scientific American, 2 May 2025 Pushing back against talent narratives Morgan pushed back on the notion that the No. 8 pick was a talent wasteland of sorts. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2025 This Lincoln Heights mom, wife and botanist has worked for three years to transform an ugly stretch of wasteland between Avenue 20 and the 5 Freeway into a lush native plant garden. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wasteland

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wasteland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wasteland. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

wasteland

noun
waste·​land ˈwāst-ˌland How to pronounce wasteland (audio)
1
: land that is not cultivated or not fit for the cultivation of crops
2
: an ugly often ruined place or area

More from Merriam-Webster on wasteland

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!