mainland

¹ American  

[meyn-land, -luhnd] / ˈmeɪnˌlænd, -lənd /

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 American  

[meyn-land, -luhnd] / ˈmeɪnˌlænd, -lənd /

noun

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

2. Pomona.

---

Mainland ¹ British  

/ 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 British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of mainland

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

Example Sentences

Seizing Kharg Island and the islands near the mainland would require an amphibious landing on a contested shoreline, among “the hardest operations” a military can attempt, and one that Iran is almost certainly prepared for.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Closer to Dubai than to the Iranian mainland, Abu Musa was a British protectorate along with seven emirates that are today the United Arab Emirates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The other two are in Sardinia, and are earmarked for closure in 2028-2029, once the island is electrically linked to the mainland via a new submarine cable.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Isle of Islay is due to set off on its first passenger sailing from Port Askaig on Islay at 12:30, arriving at Kennacraig on the mainland about two hours later.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

It came to us on the ferry after my mainland grandfather died.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

Related Words

• continent