wilderness area

noun

often capitalized W&A

: 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

Decker's remains were located on an area of Grindstone Mountain during law enforcement's fourth search of the large wilderness area around where the girls' bodies were found, Morrison said. —Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025

Instead of settling in wilderness areas, a portion of the state’s population of at least 50 wolves have fully habituated themselves to living near ranches and farms, where calves in particular are easy targets. —Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2025

Unlike fires in wilderness areas, which mostly consume vegetation, this breed of urban conflagration sucks up buildings, cars and their contents, spitting hazards well beyond the burn area. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025

This 15-hectare subalpine meadow is at 3,200 m elevation and adjacent to Colorado’s largest wilderness area, with minimal human impact. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wilderness area

• araucaria
• arenaria
• honoraria
• mercenaria
• aquaria
• gregaria
• herbaria
• hysteria
• malaria
• puparia
• rancheria
• ceria