heartland
[hahrt-land, -luh nd]
- 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.
- any central area, as of a state, nation, or continent: a vineyard in California's heartland.
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Origin of heartland
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for heartland
Contemporary Examples
The cities of the heartland came into existence, first and foremost, as economic entities.
Thus, any Iraqi army offensive in the Sunni Arab heartland is unlikely to succeed without local partners.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher had an odd warning last week for the Heartland Institute.
Meet The Putin-Loving Congressman Who’s Worried About Fluoride In Our Drinking WaterJames Kirchick
July 20, 2014
Throughout the Sunni heartland, the government has simply imploded.
The first U.S. case of MERS landed in Indiana—smack-dab in the heartland.
Is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) the Next SARS?Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad
May 3, 2014
Historical Examples
It was the only area of the heartland—except for the top level casinos—open to every citizen without restriction.
The Cartels JungleIrving E. Cox, Jr.
heartland
- the central region of a country or continent
- the core or most vital areathe industrial heartland of England
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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
Word Origin and History for heartland
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper