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

• nature
• open
• open air
• out-of-doors
• outdoors
• wild

Examples of wilderness in a Sentence

She enjoys hikes through the wilderness.

released the wolf back into the wilderness

Recent Examples on the Web

Xi was dispatched into the political wilderness for 16 years. —Joseph Torigian, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025

The Buffalo is renowned for its multi-day, wilderness canoe opportunities. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 20 June 2025

But for three-time Emmy nominee Lynskey, the scariest moment on set came during Shauna's afternoon drive gone very wrong with her fellow wilderness survivor Misty (Christina Ricci). —EW.com, 19 June 2025

Outdoors Longer, could make the difference in staying safe if you are unexpectedly stuck in the wilderness. —Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 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