heartland

[ hahrt-land, -luhnd ]

noun

1. the part of a region considered essential to the viability and survival of the whole, especially a central land area relatively invulnerable to attack and capable of economic and political self-sufficiency.
2. any central area, as of a state, nation, or continent:

   a vineyard in California's heartland.

heartland

/ ˈhɑːtˌlænd /

noun

1. the central region of a country or continent
2. the core or most vital area

   the industrial heartland of England

Word History and Origins

Origin of heartland¹

First recorded in 1900–05; heart + land

Example Sentences

By choosing Bawumia as its presidential candidate, the NPP will be hoping to make inroads in the north, while retaining support in its heartland in the south.

From BBC

Mayer said they wanted to emulate the success of the UK Independence Party who had managed to change the Conservative Party's stance on the European Union by winning votes in their traditional heartlands at elections.

From BBC

While the focus has been on expectedly tight swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, a state in the heartland has shocked pollsters.

From Salon

Israel’s bombardment has uprooted 1 of every 5 people in Lebanon, emptying out much of Lebanon’s Shiite heartlands and destroying infrastructure — according to Lebanese leaders, U.N. officials and experts — that preclude residents’ timely return.

From Los Angeles Times

He moved the family — Shiites from the village of Aitaroun — into his house in Aitou, a hillside village in the country’s northern Christian heartland.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• backwoods