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
  • Elevated viewpoints across the surrounding countryside could make this an intriguing alternative to watching from the crowded coastline.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • And so began a mother-daughter quest that so far has taken us to a Cypriot mountain village, the British countryside, and playgrounds and arboretums across the United States to find Maya’s 337-strong genetic family and learn more about the syndrome.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Tortoises routinely seek shade under dense bushes, vanish into mangroves, or shelter from the scorching equatorial sun.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Residents are urged to keep an eye out for small devices like cell phones or cameras with batteries attached that are typically wrapped in tape or leaves and hidden under bushes, behind trees or near fences.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In the hinterlands of Patagonia, ranching outposts tend to share a common set of features.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • His solo debut, Heavy Metal, landed softly in the December hinterlands of 2024, and with it a murmuration of these little fibs.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Navigate the biodiverse backwaters of Choctawhatchee Bay or visit Destin, the perfect beach town for kiteboarding and snorkeling.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • No one predicted the sleepy backwater of Sassnitz would be rebranded ‘Crashnitz’ or ‘Smashnitz’ by the end of the first edition of the German Sail Grand Prix last year.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The country currently exports about 80% of its electricity to other Asian countries like Thailand, China, and Singapore.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • International funding, Patil says, means long waits, complicated contracts and co-production treaties, and Indian filmmakers end up chasing the same grants as professionals from wealthier countries.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In the sparsely populated Australian outback, help takes time to arrive.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • For a uniquely Australian experience, extend your trip inland with a stay at one of the region’s vast outback stations.
    — Stuart Rigg, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Shilov noted that an emerging problem in the AI ecosystem is that basically anyone doing interesting safety work is likely to be contracted by frontier labs, potentially compromising their work.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The founders intend to keep testing new frontiers, with one tweak to the company’s leadership ranks.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Backland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backland. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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