wilderness

noun

wil·​der·​ness ˈwil-dər-nəs 

1

a(1)

: a tract or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings

(2)

: an area essentially undisturbed by human activity together with its naturally developed life community

b

: an empty or pathless area or region

in remote wildernesses of space groups of nebulae are found

—G. W. Gray †1960

c

: a part of a garden devoted to wild growth

2

obsolete : wild or uncultivated state

3

a

: a confusing multitude or mass : an indefinitely great number or quantity

I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys

—William Shakespeare

b

: a bewildering situation

those moral wildernesses of civilized life

—Norman Mailer

Synonyms

• wild
• desert
• country
• outdoors

Examples of wilderness in a Sentence

She enjoys hikes through the wilderness.

released the wolf back into the wilderness

Recent Examples on the Web

Lost Dutchman State Park puts people up close to the craggy mountains' wilderness with abundant saguaro cactuses in the foreground, which can be seen from hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. —Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 15 July 2025

Primary concerns are recreation/PCT, wilderness values and firefighter safety in rough terrain. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2025

Julie then said something about the mastermind's lair exploding, and, before commercial break, the show naturally flashed a fake shot of a lair exploding out in the wilderness. —David Wysong, The Enquirer, 11 July 2025

Authorities have described Decker, who was an active member of the Washington State National Guard, as an avid outdoorsman who would spend months in the wilderness. —Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from wildern wild, from Old English wilddēoren of wild beasts

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing wilderness

• wilderness area

Kids Definition

wilderness

noun

wil·​der·​ness ˈwil-dər-nəs 

: an area in which few people live that is not used for farming and is more or less in its natural state