hinterland
noun
Did you know?
When you're dealing with geography, it helps to know your hinterland from your umland. In the late 19th century, geographer George Chisholm took note of the German word Hinterland (literally "land in back of") and applied it specifically to the region just inland from a port or coastal settlement. (Chisholm spelled the word hinderland, but English speakers eventually settled on hinterland.) Early in the 20th century, another geographer adopted the German Umland ("land around") to refer to the territory around an inland town. What hinterland and umland have in common is a reference to a region economically tied to a nearby city. Nowadays, hinterland has a less technical use as well—it can be used for land that is simply out in the sticks. It can also be applied figuratively.
Synonyms
Examples of hinterland in a Sentence
Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Apr. 2024
Editors’ Picks Many schools have trod a similar path, with analog outposts in the hinterlands.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hinterland 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hinterland.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hinterland
Cite this Entry
“Hinterland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hinterland. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hinterland
noun
Share