the principal land of a country, region, etc., as distinguished from adjacent islands or a peninsula.
the mainland of Greece.
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.
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)
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)
a South Islanders' name for South Island
the main part of a land mass as opposed to an island or peninsula
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
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; see origin at main 1, land
A mainland is the land covering a continent, as opposed to islands off its coast. When you take the ferry back after visiting Block Island, you can say you're "returning to the mainland." The rocky coast of the mainland might make for a difficult landing in your rowboat — or you might enter a race that requires you to swim from the mainland to a tiny island and back. You could also refer to "mainland United States" to distinguish it from the island state of Hawaii, and its residents might even call you a mainlander when you vacation there.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The analysts note that existing offshore accounts held by mainland traders continue to generate commission and interest income, and the new rules don’t specify whether investors must fully unwind positions in the next two years.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
The island tree is shorter and bushier, its bark thicker and its cones rounder than the mainland tree.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
He also shared bank details of several individuals in the UK and mainland Europe who, he said, could receive payments.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
The Indians who arrived from the mainland are also sceptical.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
I told that to Mike and Opoku, and they wanted to take me to the mainland right away to report everything and help me find my way back home.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
