mainland
/ˈmeɪnlənd/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: mainlands
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The continent; the principal land, as distinguished from islands or a peninsula.
Noun
Examples
[…]I got to the mainland, where, to my great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of the shore and sat me down upon the grass, free from danger and quite out of the reach of the water.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
The principal island of a group.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “mainland” mean?
The continent; the principal land, as distinguished from islands or a peninsula.
Is “mainland” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.