# onshore

/ˈɑnˌʃɔɹ/ (US) · /ˈɒnʃɔː/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/onshore
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

located on the land near the sea or a lake. You use this to describe things like wind farms or oil rigs that are built on the coast rather than in the ocean.

For teachers: situated on the land adjacent to a body of water, such as the sea or a lake. Often used to distinguish land-based infrastructure from offshore equivalents.

## Examples

- The company is building a new onshore wind farm.
- While offshore drilling is expensive, onshore extraction is often more accessible for smaller energy firms.
- The transition to renewable energy has seen a significant shift toward onshore wind and solar farms, which are generally easier to maintain and integrate into the existing national grid.

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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.