hinterland

American  

[hin-ter-land] / ˈhɪn tərˌlænd /

noun

1. Often hinterlands. the remote or less developed parts of a country; back country.

   The hinterlands are usually much more picturesque than the urban areas.

2. the land lying behind a coastal region.

3. an area or sphere of influence in the unoccupied interior claimed by the state possessing the coast.

4. an inland area supplying goods, especially trade goods, to a port.

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hinterland British  

/ ˈhɪntəˌlænd /

noun

1. land lying behind something, esp a coast or the shore of a river

2. remote or undeveloped areas of a country

3. an area located near and dependent on a large city, esp a port

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Etymology

Origin of hinterland

1885–90; < German: literally, hinder land, i.e., land behind

Explanation

The hinterlands are affectionately called "the sticks," or the "boonies," short for "boondocks." Use it to specify an area that is far away from a city or town, or even civilization as we know it. Cell-phone reception and cable television aren't guaranteed. The noun hinterland comes to the English language via Germany: hinter is "behind" + land is, well, "land." It actually refers to the land lying inland — or behind — an ocean coast or river shore, which is why backwaters and hinterlands are used interchangeably. Use hinterlands when you want to make fun of an area's backwardness, or to celebrate its natural beauty: "Coming from the unspoiled hinterlands of Louisiana, she found it hard to adjust to the sights and sounds of the big city."

Example Sentences

Soon even the humblest burgh in the hinterland could lay claim to a flourishing pizzeria.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Moreover, there is substantial income variation between urban vs. rural seniors, and between those in coastal megacities and those in hinterland counties.

From Barron's • Nov. 28, 2025

Washing machines in China’s hinterland are being churned out under the command of an AI “factory brain.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

Faith is just one part of a hinterland as wide as the outback.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2025

While Marcus lay trembling with fear and guilt, and Julius in chains tracked Boots into the hot, dry hinterland, Aurelia was in her mother’s private apartment, where she had been summoned.

From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks

Related Words

• outback