# Zealand

/ˈziɫənd/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. island in Denmark

noun · CEFR B2

the largest and most populated island in Denmark, where the capital city, Copenhagen, is located.

For teachers: The largest and most populous island of Denmark, situated between the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea.

- Copenhagen is located on the eastern coast of Zealand.
- Zealand serves as the economic and political heart of Denmark, housing the majority of the nation's population and its capital city.

### 3. short for New Zealand

noun · CEFR A1 · Informal

a short way to say New Zealand, a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

For teachers: An elliptical reference to New Zealand, an island country in Oceania.

- He spent three months traveling around Zealand last year.
- While 'New Zealand' is the formal designation, the term 'Zealand' is occasionally used in specific contexts or informal shorthand to refer to the nation.

Usage: Usually requires 'New' to be understood as the country; 'Zealand' alone is rare in formal writing.

## Examples

- Copenhagen is located on the island of Zealand.
- Most of the Danish population lives on Zealand, which is connected to Sweden by a long bridge.
- The historical province of Zeeland in the Netherlands provided the namesake for New Zealand, though the Danish island of Zealand is more widely known to international travelers.

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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.