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.
LongRange Capital will acquire Pizza Hut outside mainland China for $1.5 billion; Yum China Holdings will acquire Pizza Hut in mainland China for $1.2 billion.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026
The company’s mainland China business was separately purchased by Yum China Holdings Inc. for $1.2 billion, the statement said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
Pizza Hut mainland China is being sold for about $1.2 billion.
From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026
However, it’s also about 20 miles from Iran’s mainland, from which Iran’s military could mount and resupply a steady barrage of missiles, drones, and even artillery fire.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
“Far from here, I hope, though I’d like him caught. Will you take me to the mainland with you?”
From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk
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.
