mainland
gb/mˈeɪnlˌænd/ us/mˈeɪnlˌænd/
B1
English
~ 7400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
main landmass, not islands
The main big area of land of a country or region, not including its islands.
Usage pattern:
on the mainland
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write it as two words ("main land") or confuse it with "continent". "Mainland" is usually used with "the" ("the mainland"), and often in contrast with a specific island or group of islands.
Synonyms
continent (Often refers to a whole continental landmass (like Africa or Europe), while "mainland" is usually the main part of one country or region compared with its islands.)
Antonyms
island (An island is a piece of land surrounded by water, while the mainland is the main body of land not separated in this way.)
Collocations
the mainland
|on the mainland
|return to the mainland
|mainland Europe
|mainland China
|reach the mainland
Themes
geography
|travel
|politics
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After a week on the island, they took the ferry back to the mainland.
- Many young people leave the islands to find work on the mainland.
- Tourists often visit smaller islands as a day trip from the mainland.
- The storm cut the village off from the mainland for three days.
- Mainland Europe can be reached by train from London via the Channel Tunnel.
Learner examples
- We took a boat from the island to the mainland.
- There are more jobs on the mainland than on the small islands.
- The bridge connects the island to the mainland.
- Strong winds stopped all flights to the mainland.
- She moved from the island to the mainland to study.
adjective
B2
property
2
from or relating to the mainland
From the main land area of a country or region, not from its islands.
Usage pattern:
mainland [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "mainland" with "mainstream". "Mainland" refers to geography (land and islands), while "mainstream" refers to what is usual or popular in a society.
Synonyms
continental (Often used for things relating to the main European continent or another continent in general; "mainland" is more directly about contrast with nearby islands.)
Antonyms
island (As an adjective (e.g. "island culture", "island residents"), it describes something from or related to an island, in contrast to "mainland".)
Collocations
mainland tourists
|mainland residents
|mainland market
|mainland cities
|mainland culture
|mainland visitors
Themes
geography
|travel
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Mainland tourists arrive every summer to enjoy the island’s beaches.
- Property prices are much higher in mainland cities than on the surrounding islands.
- Some islanders worry that mainland culture is changing their traditional way of life.
- The island depends heavily on mainland supplies during the winter months.
- Mainland schools follow a different curriculum from those on the islands.
Learner examples
- Many mainland visitors come to the island in July.
- She wants to move from her island village to a mainland town.
- The island shop sells many products from mainland factories.
- Mainland workers travel to the island by ferry every day.
- We listened to a radio station from a mainland city.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mainland
IPA
GB/mˈeɪnlˌænd/
US/mˈeɪnlˌænd/
Syllables & stress
main - land (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (main)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: mainland
Noun
- Base: mainland
Word family
Related words
mainlander
noun
Expressions
mainland China
1/mˈeɪnlˌænd t͡ʃˈaɪnə/
fixed phrase
China excluding certain regions
The part of China that is the large main land area, not including Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan.
Examples
- Many companies manufacture their products in mainland China.
- Travel rules for visitors from mainland China are different from those for local residents.
- She grew up in Hong Kong but later moved to mainland China for work.
mainland Europe
1/mˈeɪnlˌænd jˈʊɹəp/
fixed phrase
continental Europe, not islands
The part of Europe that is one large piece of land, not islands like Great Britain or Ireland.
Examples
- Trains from London connect directly to mainland Europe through the Channel Tunnel.
- Food prices are often lower in mainland Europe than in the UK.
- They spent their holiday driving across mainland Europe.
the mainland
1/ðə mˈeɪnlˌænd/
fixed phrase
the main land area, not islands
The main big area of land of a country or region, not its islands, when talking about a specific place.
Examples
- Ferries to the mainland run every two hours.
- During winter, heavy snow can cut the village off from the mainland.
- Many young people leave the island for better jobs on the mainland.