mainland

¹

[meyn-land, -luhnd]

noun

1. the principal land of a country, region, etc., as distinguished from adjacent islands or a peninsula.

   the mainland of Greece.

2. any part of or all of the continental United States or conterminous United States, especially from the perspective of someone in a geographically detached U.S. state or territory, such as Hawaii or Guam.

   I’m not sure where on the mainland Jasmine went to college, but it may have been Milwaukee.

Mainland

²

[meyn-land, -luhnd]

noun

1. the largest of the Shetland Islands. About 200 sq. mi. (520 sq. km).

2. Pomona.

Mainland

¹

/ ˈmeɪnlənd /

noun

1. an island off N Scotland: the largest of the Shetland Islands. Chief town: Lerwick. Pop: 17 550 (2001). Area: about 583 sq km (225 sq miles)

2. Also called: Pomona. an island off N Scotland: the largest of the Orkney Islands. Chief town: Kirkwall. Pop: 15 315 (2001). Area: 492 sq km (190 sq miles)

3. a South Islanders' name for South Island

mainland

²

/ ˈmeɪnlənd /

noun

1. the main part of a land mass as opposed to an island or peninsula

2. a particular landmass as viewed from a nearby island with which it has close links, such as Great Britain as viewed from Northern Ireland or continental Australia as viewed from Tasmania

Other Word Forms

• mainlander noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mainland¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; main ¹, land

Example Sentences

Epstein moved his business in the late 1990s from the mainland to the U.S.

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Now Keira is one of many Greenlandic families living on the Danish mainland who are fighting to get their children returned to them after they were removed by social services.

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Still, mainland China shares gave up their early morning gains, while the Hang Seng ended flat.

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Beijing’s calculated moves appear to reflect its fear that the mainland’s “hearts and minds” battle for the island is all but lost.

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Xiaomi attributed the increase to higher revenue from certain lifestyle products and wearables in the global market, despite lower revenue from smart large home appliances in the Chinese mainland market.

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Related Words

• continent