- the main part of a land mass as opposed to an island or peninsula
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
main•land /ˈmeɪnˌlænd, -lənd/USA pronunciation
n. [countable;
usually singular;
usually: the + ~]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026usually singular;
usually: the + ~]
- the principal land of a region, etc., as distinguished from nearby islands:ferried back to the mainland.
main•land
(mān′land′, -lənd),USA pronunciation n.
Main•land (mān′land′, -lənd),USA pronunciation n.
- the principal land of a country, region, etc., as distinguished from adjacent islands or a peninsula:the mainland of Greece.
- (in Hawaii) the 48 contiguous states of the U.S.
- 1325–75; Middle English; see main1, land
Main•land (mān′land′, -lənd),USA pronunciation n.
- Place Namesthe largest of the Shetland Islands. 18,268;
ab. 200 sq. mi. (520 sq. km). - Place NamesPomona (def. 3).
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
mainland /ˈmeɪnlənd/ n
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Mainland /ˈmeɪnlənd/ n
- 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)
- 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)
- the Mainland ⇒ NZ
a South Islanders' name for South Island
'mainland' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Alaska Peninsula
- Anglesey
- Antarctica
- bar
- Bass Strait
- Boothia Peninsula
- Bronx
- Cape Breton Island
- Cape Flats
- Cape Peninsula
- Cape York
- continent
- Denmark
- Diu
- Equatorial Guinea
- Euboea
- Finisterre
- French Southern and Antarctic Lands
- Frisian Islands
- Great Britain
- Hainan
- Helladic
- Holy Island
- Hong Kong
- Honshu
- Irish Republican Army
- John o'Groats
- Jura
- Jutland
- Kalmar
- Kirkwall
- Labrador
- Lerwick
- Linear B
- Magellan
- main
- Matapan
- Matsu
- Mazatlán
- Melville Island
- Menai Strait
- Minch
- Minoan
- Mull
- Newfoundland
- New Siberian Islands
- Nordkyn Cape
- barrier island
- Bijagos Islands
- Boothia