Definition of wilderness
1a (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 communityb : an empty or pathless area or region in remote wildernesses of space groups of nebulae are found — G. W. Gray †1960c : a part of a garden devoted to wild growth
2 obsolete : wild or uncultivated state
3a : a confusing multitude or mass : an indefinitely great number or quantity I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys — William Shakespeareb : a bewildering situation those moral wildernesses of civilized life — Norman Mailer
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Examples of wilderness in a sentence
She enjoys hikes through the wilderness.
released the wolf back into the wilderness
Origin and Etymology of wilderness
Middle English, from wildern wild, from Old English wilddēoren of wild beasts
First Known Use: 13th century
WILDERNESS Defined for English Language Learners
wilderness
playDefinition of wilderness for English Language Learners
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: a wild and natural area in which few people live
WILDERNESS Defined for Kids
wilderness
playDefinition of wilderness for Students
: an area in its natural state in which few or no people live
Learn More about wilderness
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wilderness Spanish Central: Translation of wilderness Nglish: Translation of wilderness for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wilderness for Arabic speakers
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