# wilderness

/ˈwɪɫdɝnəs/ (US) · /wˈɪldənəs/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. wild land

noun · CEFR B2

a large area of land that has never been developed or farmed, where nature is left alone.

For teachers: an uncultivated and uninhabited region in its natural state. Usually uncountable when referring to the concept, but countable when referring to a specific tract of land.

- The hikers spent three days exploring the mountain wilderness far from any roads.
- Conservationists argue that preserving the remaining wilderness is essential for protecting biodiversity and maintaining natural carbon sinks.

### 2. political isolation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a time when a person or group, especially a politician, has no power or influence.

For teachers: a period of time during which a person or political party is out of office or lacks public influence. Often used in the phrase 'in the wilderness'.

- After losing the election, the party leader spent ten years in the political wilderness.
- Churchill's years in the wilderness during the 1930s allowed him to develop the independent perspective that would later define his wartime leadership.

### 3. a confusing collection

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a large and messy group of things that is difficult to understand or organize.

For teachers: a bewildering or jumbled collection of things. Typically followed by the preposition 'of'.

- The old library was a wilderness of dusty books and forgotten papers.
- The legal case became a wilderness of conflicting testimonies and technicalities that baffled even the most experienced judges.

### 4. ornamental garden

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a part of a large garden designed to look wild, often with many trees or a maze.

For teachers: a section of a formal garden or park intentionally planted to simulate a natural wild state, often featuring dense trees or labyrinths.

- The estate included a small wilderness where guests could walk among the oak trees.
- Eighteenth-century landscape architects often included a wilderness to provide a contrast with the rigid symmetry of the parterres near the house.

## Examples

- The hikers spent a week exploring the mountain wilderness.
- National parks protect vast areas of wilderness to ensure that native plants and animals can thrive without human interference.
- After losing the election, the former prime minister spent a decade in the political wilderness before being asked to lead the party once again.

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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.