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 ( def 3 ).

mainland

¹

/ ˈmeɪnlənd /

noun

1. the main part of a land mass as opposed to an island or peninsula
2. the mainland
   the mainland 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

Mainland

²

/ 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 calledPomona 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. See South Island
   the Mainland
   the Mainland a South Islanders' name for South Island

Derived Forms

• ˈmainlander, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mainland¹

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

Example Sentences

The Politburo’s response dynamically reflected the mainland populace’s pent-up anger, through pivoting towards more hardline stances and measures.

From Time

China’s box office revenue on New Year’s Day hit a new record as moviegoers flocked to cinemas across the mainland.

From Fortune

This week, Goldman Sachs said it was in the process of acquiring 100% ownership of its China joint venture, which would make it the first Wall Street bank with full control of a mainland securities firm.

From Fortune

I’ve been in the mainland for a long time now, it’s been like 20 years.

From Quanta Magazine

In a news release, Ige stressed the importance of keeping infection numbers down on an island that can’t afford to have its hospitals filled with coronavirus patients the same way that others have on the mainland.

From Washington Post

In 1957, the islands came under repeated shelling by Mainland--or as it was then called, “Red”-- China.

From The Daily Beast

The two islands are now tourist sites for visitors from Taiwan and mainland China.

From The Daily Beast

Palombo, who was on the mainland at the time, told him to move on.

From The Daily Beast

Even now, the protest sites see a good number of Mainland Chinese tourists who stop by to read the posters and banners.

From The Daily Beast

Shoppers from Mainland China arrived in droves, and gained front row seats to civil disobedience in action.

From The Daily Beast

When all these ceremonies were finished, they carried him for burial to an isolated island, far from the mainland.

From Project Gutenberg

The mainland of the great northern cove and the eastern side of the Islands were thick with trees: oaks, buckeye, willows, madroo.

From Project Gutenberg

In Alderney, I am told, it has one small station on the mainland on the side nearest the French coast.

From Project Gutenberg

By the time of our return the tide had already risen several feet and we were rowed to the mainland in a boat.

From Project Gutenberg

Lake Luna was a-glare from the mainland to Cavern Island, and the freight boats had given over running until the spring break-up.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• continent