Word of the day: Hinterland

Hinterland

[HINT-ər-land]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: German, late 19th century

The often uncharted areas beyond a coastal district or a river's banks.

An area lying beyond what is visible or known.

Examples of hinterland in a sentence

"The merchants from the hinterland brought new products to the fishing village."

"The dog's ball landed somewhere in the woods' hinterlands."

About Hinterland

Hinterland originated in German from a combination of the words "hinter" ("behind") and "land."

Did you Know?

Hinterland was first featured in the 1888 book "Handbook of Commercial Geography," and was used to describe the country beyond a coastal town or settlement. Eventually, the term evolved throughout the 20th century to describe areas considered largely unsettled.