plural wastelands
1
: land where nothing can grow or be built : land that is not usable
a desert wasteland
2
: an ugly and often ruined place or area
The outskirts of the city became a grim industrial wasteland.
3
: something that is being compared to a large, empty area of land because it has no real value or interest
That part of the country is a cultural wasteland.
the vast wasteland of television
Cite this Entry
“Wasteland.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/wasteland. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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