Shetland

British

/ ˈʃɛtlənd /

noun

Also called: Shetland Islands. Official name (until 1974): Zetland. a group of about 100 islands (fewer than 20 inhabited), off the N coast of Scotland, which constitute an island authority of Scotland: a Norse dependency from the 8th century until 1472; noted for the breeding of Shetland ponies, knitwear manufacturing, and fishing; oil-related industries. Administrative centre: Lerwick. Pop: 21 870 (2003 est). Area: 1426 sq km (550 sq miles)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland has announced a "launch window" for a possible rocket test flight.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026

A feasibility study for Shetland Islands Council proposes replacing ageing ferries with tunnels from Shetland's mainland to Yell and from Yell to Unst, describing them as "economically transformative".

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

The Faroes, a self-governing nation in the Kingdom of Denmark, are home to some 54,000 people while Shetland has a population of around 23,000.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

The actress who plays Tosh in BBC drama Shetland is to leave the show after 13 years, it has been announced.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

It was a photograph of a woman and a Shetland pony.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023