mainland

1 of 2

noun (1)

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-lənd
Synonyms of mainlandnext
: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula
mainlander
ˈmān-ˌlan-dər How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-lən-
noun

mainlander

2 of 2

noun (2)

main·​land·​er -də(r) How to pronounce mainlander (audio)
plural -s
: a dweller on the mainland
any mainlander—Hawaii's term for a resident of continental United States—will find its stores … stocked with the latest mainland fashions—Jack Teehan

Synonyms of mainland

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Noun (1)

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Examples of mainland in a Sentence

Noun (1) the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
But other players in the sector are already traded in Hong Kong and mainland China. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 July 2026 The platform is usually occupied only by a caretaker guard, with Michael Bates preferring to live on the mainland. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 Paramedics flew the woman to a mainland hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries, said sheriff’s office spokesman Adam Linhardt. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 July 2026 The Catalan conquistador led the first mainland expedition of Europeans up and down what’s now California. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mainland

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mainland was in the 14th century

Rhymes for mainland

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Browse Nearby Words

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mainland
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Cite this Entry

“Mainland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainland. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mainland

noun
main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce mainland (audio)
-lənd
: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula
mainlander noun

Geographical Definition

Mainland

geographical name

Main·​land ˈmān-ˌland How to pronounce Mainland (audio)
-lənd
1
honshu
2
island in northern Scotland; largest of the Orkney Islands
3
island in northern Scotland; largest of the Shetland Islands

More from Merriam-Webster on mainland

Nglish: Translation of mainland for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mainland

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