mainland

main-land · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large continuous extent of land that forms the main part of a country or territory, as opposed to offshore islands.

  2. 2.

    (often with "the") The principal landmass of a continent.

Forms

plural: mainlands

Related words

Antonyms: island, offshore
See also: continent, island, territory

Etymology

Compound of Old English maegen ("main, chief") + land ("land").