wilderness area

noun

variants often Wilderness Area
: an often large tract of public land maintained essentially in its natural state and protected against introduction of intrusive artifacts (such as roads and buildings)

Examples of wilderness area in a Sentence

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.
Respecting wildlife by keeping a safe distance and understanding that parks are true wilderness areas is essential for safety. Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026 In recent years, managers at several federal wilderness areas have worked to include tribes in decisions about how these lands are stewarded. Clare E. Boerigter, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026 In a letter from earlier this month obtained by The New York Times and addressed to members of the Senate, the former president’s descendants pressed the lawmakers to not vote for a resolution going back on a Biden administration decision to prevent mining in a wilderness area in Minnesota. Tara Suter, The Hill, 16 Feb. 2026 Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp, set to open in Zambia’s Kafue National Park in 2026, marks a major new luxury safari arrival in one of Africa’s largest and least-visited wilderness areas. Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wilderness area

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wilderness area was in 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Wilderness area.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wilderness%20area. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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