wilderness area

noun, often capitalized W&A

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of 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)

See wilderness area defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of wilderness area from the Web

The pair were forced to spend a cold Monday night in the 63,960-acre wilderness area after getting lost while hiking, the California Highway Patrol's Valley Division Air Operations said on Facebook.

— jordan cutler-tietjen, sacbee, "Helicopter rescues hiker and her dog lost in Desolation Wilderness," 6 June 2018
The great challenge will be to produce enough food for this tremendous surge in population while also protecting enough wilderness areas to maintain some measure of the planet’s fast-depleting biodiversity.

— mark lynas, WSJ, "Confession of an Anti-GMO Activist," 22 June 2018
Olympic National Park is one of America's only wilderness areas that's uncrossed by highways and far from most commercial flight paths.

— ken jennings, Condé Nast Traveler, "Olympic National Park Is Home to the Quietest Spot in the Continental U.S.," 11 June 2018
North of Namakagon, the trail passes through two wilderness areas: Porcupine Lake and Rainbow Lake.

— chelsey lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Cable is one of Wisconsin's best trail towns," 7 June 2018
During his tenure, more than 70 wilderness areas in 31 states were brought under the Wilderness Act’s protection.

— bart barnes, Washington Post, "Stewart Brandborg, longtime leader of Wilderness Society, dies at 93," 19 Apr. 2018
National recreational trails are generally shorter hikes in urban, rural, and wilderness areas, such as the Hellcat Interpretive Trail in Essex, an easy stroll on elevated boardwalks.

— kathryn miles, BostonGlobe.com, "Yankee grit and the building of the Appalachian Trail," 13 June 2018
Marshall’s Farm pioneered the natural honey movement, showcasing microclimate honeys, from Bay Area backyards, farms, wilderness areas and even hotel rooftops.

— sarah fritsche, SFChronicle.com, "Pioneering Marshall’s Farm looking to pass on legacy of natural honey in Bay Area," 12 June 2018
Captured primarily in residential neighborhoods, rather than the Everglades or other wilderness areas, these snakes are thought to be released or escaped pets.

— david fleshler, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Reticulated pythons offered to undercover officer in restaurant parking lot," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wilderness area.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.