# Midlands

/ˈmɪdˌɫændz/ (US) · /mˈɪdləndz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/midlands
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. central England

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

the central part of England, including cities like Birmingham and Nottingham.

For teachers: A culturally and geographically distinct area of central England, administratively divided into the West Midlands and East Midlands.

- Many people who live in the Midlands commute to London for work.
- The industrial heritage of the Midlands played a crucial role in the development of the British economy during the nineteenth century.

Usage: Usually capitalized as 'the Midlands' when referring to the English region.

### 2. central areas of a country

noun · CEFR B2

the areas in the middle of a country, away from the coast or borders.

For teachers: The interior or central regions of a country or territory, often used in plural form.

- The midlands of the country are mostly used for farming and agriculture.
- The survey focused on the economic disparities between the coastal cities and the rural midlands.

Usage: Often used in the plural to describe a general geographic area.

## Examples

- Many people travel through the midlands to get to the north.
- The company decided to move its main warehouse to the midlands to improve delivery times across the country.
- Historically, the midlands served as the industrial heart of the nation, though recent decades have seen a shift toward service-based economies and logistics hubs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.