mainland
Pluralmainlands
- 1The main area of land in a country, not counting its islands.
Like the big piece of land you return to after visiting a small island.
After two weeks on the island, the family took a ferry back to the mainland.
Fresh supplies are shipped from the mainland every Monday morning.
Oppositeisland
- 2The biggest or most important island in a group of islands.
Like the main island that all the smaller ones nearby depend on.
The territory's capital and government sit on the mainland.
Boats carry workers from the outer islands to the mainland each morning.
- 3Great Britain, as seen from Northern Ireland or the smaller islands near it.
Many young people from Northern Ireland move to the mainland for work.
The evening ferry to the mainland leaves Belfast right on time.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of mainland apart? Answer 2 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From Middle English "mayne londe," made from "main" plus "land."