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

Tourists on the archipelago are also reported to be stranded at the airport, with flight delays because of the protests, which have been on the mainland.

Read more on BBC

ACT-Wazalendo was allowed to contest the local election in Zanzibar, but its candidate was barred from competing against Hassan on the mainland.

Read more on Barron's

On Monday, two B-1s flew for roughly half an hour between Venezuela’s mainland and its islands off the coast, according to flight tracking data.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A US guided-missile destroyer that docked for four days in Trinidad and Tobago, within firing range of mainland Venezuela -- which called its presence a "provocation" -- departed as scheduled on Thursday, AFP witnessed.

Read more on Barron's

The company said it increased market share across the board in mainland China, noting particular gains in its La Mer, Le Labo and Tom Ford premium brands.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• continent