Word

mainland

noun C1

UK /ˈmeɪnlænd/

US /ˈmeɪnlənd/

Meanings

noun

the main land area of a country or region, as opposed to the islands around it

noun

the continental part of a country, especially when it also includes islands

Definition

The mainland is the main landmass of a country or region, not including its islands.

The mainland refers to the largest continuous area of land that belongs to a country or region, as opposed to its offshore islands. People often use it when talking about travel, shipping, government, or supply routes between islands and the main land area. It can also mean the continental part of a country, especially when a nation includes many islands.

Examples

After months on the island, I flew back to the mainland to renew my documents and see my family.
If you book early, you can take the night ferry from the mainland and arrive before sunrise.
She prefers living on the mainland because the transport links are more reliable in winter storms.
They shipped fresh produce from the mainland, but rough seas delayed the delivery by two days.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes write it as two words (main land) when the noun is normally written as one word: mainland.