mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland 

-lənd

: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula

mainlander

ˈmān-ˌlan-dər 

-lən-

noun

Synonyms of mainland

• continent

Examples of mainland in a Sentence

the boat back to the mainland leaves once every two days

Recent Examples on the Web

Markets in mainland China were closed for a national holiday. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

The mainland China market remained closed for the Golden Week holiday. — Justina Lee,tobias Burns, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

The rate of population decline on small, remote Croatian islands is similar to that of the mainland. — Lefteris Pitarakis, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

The pet travel fee is $125 each way for US mainland flights and $35 for flights between Hawaiian islands. — Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mainland

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

mainland

noun

main·​land ˈmān-ˌland 

-lənd

: a continent or the main part of a continent as distinguished from an offshore island or sometimes from a cape or peninsula

mainlander noun

Geographical Definition

Mainland

geographical name

Main·​land ˈmān-ˌland 

-lənd

1

honshu

2

island in northern Scotland; largest of the Orkney Islands

3

island in northern Scotland; largest of the Shetland Islands