Definition of backlandnext
as in countryside
usually backlands plural a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country they purposely vacationed in the backlands to get away from people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of backland But more migrants, moving farther into remote backlands to elude the Border Patrol, have died in scorching desert heat, a shameful indicator that enforcement is having an effect in many places. Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024 His protagonist, living in direst poverty in Brazil’s arid backlands, decides to migrate to the wealthier coast. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Dec. 2019 Born in the arid backlands of Brazil’s north-east, Mr Gilberto arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1950 as a singer in one of the then-fashionable vocal ensembles. The Economist, 11 July 2019 Tucked in the emerald backlands of Fayetteville, Georgia, inside a cavernous soundstage at Pinewood Studios, Mara Brock-Akil is in full field marshall mode. Jason Parham, WIRED, 19 June 2018 Patrícia Santos da Silva, 24, and her family live in the city of Santana do Ipanema, in the western backlands of Alagoas. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Nov. 2017 Some escaped and formed clandestine communities in the backlands of the rainforest, independent villages known as quilombos. Smithsonian, 21 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backland
Noun
  • Relaxed pants like this pair are perfect for a long bus tour through the countryside or for wearing out to dinner—they’ll look polished without feeling uncomfortable.
    Erin Cavoto, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
  • There are 22 rooms here, a variety of suites and doubles, with views of the gardens or countryside in the distance.
    Jonathan Samuels, TheWeek, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Consider paintings like Caracalla, where the titular emperor treads a trail of rose petals; or In a Rose Garden, where a woman shakes the petals of a rose bush down on her companion; and the extravaganza of The Roses of Heliogabalus.
    Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 17 July 2026
  • Late summer is also a good time to selectively shape rose bushes and remove any unwanted growth.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • The four siblings – Anna, Jack, middle brother Ed (Callum Turner) and younger brother Robert (Lukas Gage) – are all adult and all still living at the family home, a modernist property in the hinterlands of Catalonia, Spain.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Indeed, Ukrainian strikes on oil infrastructure have created major gas shortages that are bedeviling much of the Russian hinterland.
    Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Fully restored to its original glory, the mansion is located on the banks of the backwaters of Kerala, and is only accessible by boat from the mainland.
    Rumit Mehta, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026
  • The movie goes from this weird, seedy love motel to the industrial backwaters, and these long walks and talks down empty streets.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • The tapestry of nationalities that make up this country were able to support their teams in the greatest sporting event on Earth.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • After 104 games across three countries over five and a half weeks, the 23rd edition of the men’s World Cup was down to its closing stages.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • Broken Hill Those traveling between Sydney and Adelaide will stop at this outback mining town, which has some of the world’s largest silver, lead, and zinc mineral deposits.
    Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • Observe black cockatoos preen in the drooping she-oaks, or marvel at the Dali-esque outback, filled with its skeletal mallee trees.
    Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • These announcements show interest from frontier model developers and hyperscale cloud providers, but they should not be interpreted as identical or as immediate purchase orders.
    Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • As JPMorganChase put it in a recent report, China possesses important strengths in the AI race, including its robust support for open-source AI ecosystems, despite America’s leadership in frontier models, semiconductor design, and AI financing.
    James Marks, Fortune, 23 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Backland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backland. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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