terra firma

American  

[ter-uh fur-muh] / ˈtɛr ə ˈfɜr mə /

noun

1. firm or solid earth; dry land (as opposed to water or air).

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terra firma British  

/ ˈfɜːmə /

noun

1. the solid earth; firm ground

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terra firma Cultural  

1. Dry land, as opposed to the sea: “After our stormy voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, we were relieved to set foot on terra firma.” From Latin, meaning “firm (or solid) ground.”

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Etymology

Origin of terra firma

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1595–1605

Example Sentences

But the fear was that it would happen in space, when you’re 180 miles from terra firma and the nearest fire station.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2025

Thus began a protracted process of draining lakes and waterways to transform the glittering island city into a European-like capital planted on terra firma.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2024

I am ecstatic over it, but there’s also part of me that maintains that I must keep my feet firmly planted on the ground, on terra firma, on Earth.

From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2023

Stott and Enright said being exposed to the Overview Effect and Oceanview Effect tends to lead adventurers to take action once they return to terra firma.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 13, 2023

The contraption lay with its stomach on terra firma, heavy and sluggish and looking more like a wounded duck than like one of those newfangled airplanes they were starting to produce in the United States.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende