heartland

[hahrt-land, -luhnd]

noun

1. the part of a region considered essential to the viability and survival of the whole, especially a central land area relatively invulnerable to attack and capable of economic and political self-sufficiency.

2. any central area, as of a state, nation, or continent.

   a vineyard in California's heartland.

heartland

/ ˈhɑːtˌlænd /

noun

1. the central region of a country or continent

2. the core or most vital area

   the industrial heartland of England

Word History and Origins

Origin of heartland¹

First recorded in 1900–05; heart + land

Example Sentences

The pressure to lift the moratorium comes as Brazil prepares to open a major new railway stretching from its agricultural heartland in the south up into the rainforest.

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The fighting throughout the region has presented a fresh opportunity for defense companies in the American heartland and, to a lesser extent, tech giants on the West Coast.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In just under a fortnight, leaders from some of the world's major economies will gather in South Africa's economic heartland, Johannesburg, for the G20 summit.

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The partisan Headingley crowd responded, with fans from the rugby league heartland of Leeds showing their appreciation.

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The sector directly employs only around 80,000 people, according to German industry federation WV Stahl, with many working in the traditional industrial heartland of the Ruhr.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• backwoods