frontier

[ fruhn-teer, fron-; also, esp. British, fruhn-teer ]
/ frʌnˈtɪər, frɒn-; also, esp. British, ˈfrʌn tɪər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR frontier ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the part of a country that borders another country; boundary; border.
the land or territory that forms the furthest extent of a country's settled or inhabited regions.
Often frontiers.
  1. the limit of knowledge or the most advanced achievement in a particular field: the frontiers of physics.
  2. an outer limit in a field of endeavor, especially one in which the opportunities for research and development have not been exploited: the frontiers of space exploration.
Mathematics. boundary(def 2).

adjective

of, relating to, or located on the frontier: a frontier town.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?
Question 1 of 10
earnest
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.
a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.
urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of frontier

1350–1400; Middle English frounter < Old French frontier, equivalent to front (in the sense of opposite side; see front) + -ier -ier2

synonym study for frontier

1. See boundary.

OTHER WORDS FROM frontier

fron·tier·less, adjectivefron·tier·like, adjectivesem·i·fron·tier, nountrans·fron·tier, adjective

Words nearby frontier

frontality, frontenac, frontenac et palluau, frontenis, fronter, frontier, frontier orbital, frontiersman, frontierswoman, frontis, frontispiece
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to frontier

perimeter, march, borderline, bound, confines, edge, limit, verge, borderland, boondocks, outskirts, unknown, outback, backwoods, bush, hinterland, backwater, backcountry, boonies

Example sentences from the Web for frontier

British Dictionary definitions for frontier

frontier
/ (ˈfrʌntɪə, frʌnˈtɪə) /

noun

  1. the region of a country bordering on another or a line, barrier, etc, marking such a boundary
  2. (as modifier)a frontier post
US and Canadian
  1. the edge of the settled area of a country
  2. (as modifier)the frontier spirit
(often plural) the limit of knowledge in a particular fieldthe frontiers of physics have been pushed back

Word Origin for frontier

C14: from Old French frontiere, from front (in the sense: part which is opposite); see front
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