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 …

—George 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 of wilderness

• 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

The series itself follows the famed adventurer as he's joined by celebrities for exciting journeys in the wilderness. —Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026

This meant slowly shuffling into the wilderness. —Literary Hub, 19 May 2026

Destinations vary from the wilderness of Siberia, to the lakes of Scandinavia to the mountains of western Canada, with some making their year-round home in the Twin Cities. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 19 May 2026

Luca, now 20, entered a wilderness therapy program in 2019 at age 12, followed by a therapeutic boarding school. —Samantha Rappaport, CBS News, 18 May 2026

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