Synonyms for
Mainland
Definition
Mainland refers to the main body of a country or continent, as distinct from an island or peninsula.
Synonyms & similar words
Synonyms by register
Formal
Informal
Literary
Antonyms
Common collocations
- mainland China
- mainland Europe
- mainland United States
- off the mainland
- return to the mainland
- the mainland coast
- travel to the mainland
Word family
noun mainland
Usage note
Refers to the principal, continuous mass of land of a country or continent, as opposed to its islands. It is often used in contrast to islands or overseas territories.
Example sentences
- I live on the mainland, not on the island.
- The mainland of Australia is the largest island in the world.
- The mainland of India is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Arabian Sea to the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south.
- The mainland of Europe is connected to Asia by the Ural Mountains.
- The mainland of China has a diverse range of cultures and languages.
Quotes
The sea from Dunkirk to Dover during these days of September 1939 became the busiest operational area in the world... The story of each vessel, of the men who worked it and of the sailors it carried, has its own individuality and... interest, but collectively they form a main strand of Britain's war effort.
The sea from Dunkirk to Dover during these days of September 1939 became the busiest operational area in the world... The story of each vessel, of the men who worked it and of the sailors it carried, has its own individuality and... interest, but collectively they form a main strand of Britain's war effort.
It is the mainland of Scotland which is the real Scotland, with its lochs and glens, its heather and its hills.