Word
mainland
Phoneticsmain·land, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmeɪnˌɫænd/
UK/mˈeɪnlənd/
Definitions
01the main landmass
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the largest part of a country or continent, rather than the islands near it.
n. the principal landmass of a country or continent, as distinguished from its offshore islands or peninsulas.
日本語:本土※
“We took a ferry from the small island back to the mainland.”
“The coastal communities rely heavily on the mainland for specialized medical services and the distribution of heavy industrial goods.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02Great Britain from Northern Ireland
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun British English · Dialect
n. a name people in Northern Ireland sometimes use for Great Britain.
n. a term used within Northern Ireland to refer to the island of Great Britain.
日本語:本土※
“He moved to the mainland to study at a university in London.”
“Political discourse regarding the relationship between Northern Ireland and the mainland often centers on economic integration and transport links.”
Synonyms
03the largest island in a group
C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English
n. the biggest island in a group of islands, like the Orkney or Shetland islands.
n. the principal or largest island within a specific archipelago, notably used for the main islands of Orkney and Shetland.
“Most of the population of the Shetland Islands lives on the Mainland.”
“Archaeological sites on the Mainland of Orkney provide significant insight into Neolithic settlement patterns in Northern Europe.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mainland” in context.
Verb
01. reach the mainland
“After three hours at sea, the ferry finally reached the mainland.”
verb + noun
02. return to the mainland
“Many islanders return to the mainland during the winter months to find work.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. nearby mainland
“The resort offers a shuttle boat to the nearby mainland for shopping trips.”
adj + noun
04. vast mainland
“The small archipelago is dwarfed by the vast mainland to the north.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. link to the mainland
“The new bridge provides a vital transport link to the mainland for the local community.”
noun + prep + noun
06. mainland coast
“The lighthouse is visible from several points along the mainland coast.”
noun + noun
Preposition
07. from the mainland
“Most of the fresh produce is shipped in daily from the mainland.”
prep + noun
08. on the mainland
“Life on the mainland is much faster-paced than the relaxed lifestyle of the islands.”
prep + noun
Usage
Usually used with the definite article 'the'.
Real-World Examples
“The accounts also wrongly show Ceuta as a viable route to mainland Europe.” “A maximum level-five alert for fires was issued for much of the Greek mainland and local officials in Halkidiki have banned access to the region’s dense pine forests.” Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/mainland
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0