Greenland

American  

[green-luhnd, -land] / ˈgrin lənd, -ˌlænd /

noun

1. a self-governing island belonging to Denmark, located NE of North America: the largest island in the world. About 844,000 sq. mi. (2,186,000 sq. km); about 700,000 sq. mi. (1,800,000 sq. km) icecapped. Godthåb.

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Greenland British  

/ ˈɡriːnlənd /

noun

1. Danish name: Grønland.  Greenlandic name: Kalaallit Nunaat.  a large island, lying mostly within the Arctic Circle off the NE coast of North America: first settled by Icelanders in 986; resettled by Danes from 1721 onwards; integral part of Denmark (1953–79); granted internal autonomy 1979; mostly covered by an icecap up to 3300 m (11 000 ft) thick, with ice-free coastal strips and coastal mountains; the population is largely Inuit, with a European minority; fishing, hunting, and mining. Capital: Nuuk (Godthåb). Pop: 57 714 (2013 est). Area: 175 600 sq km (840 000 sq miles)

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Greenland Cultural  

1. Island lying largely within the Arctic Circle; owned by Denmark but governed locally since 1978. Its native name is Kaballit Nunaat.

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Discover More

Greenland is the largest island in the world. (Australia is larger but is officially a continent, not an island.)

Other Word Forms

• Greenlander noun
• Greenlandish adjective

Example Sentences

After meeting Trump, Rutte told reporters that the U.S. is also trying to ensure that any arrangement they reach with the Danes and Greenlanders remains in force if Greenland achieves independence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

During the Cold War, the U.S. stationed long-range bombers in Greenland, some loaded with nuclear weapons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The proposed expansion won’t mark a new development, but rather restore parts of the U.S.’s Cold War footprint in Greenland.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The UK government carefully voiced policy differences with the US on trade wars, recognition of Palestine or the future of Greenland.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Dad was telling Mum about a new trainee salesman called Danny Lawlor at the new Greenland Superstore in Reading.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell