wilderness
noun
wil·der·ness
ˈwil-dər-nəs 
1
a(1)
: a tract or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings
(2)
: an area essentially undisturbed by human activity together with its naturally developed life community
b
: an empty or pathless area or region
in remote wildernesses of space groups of nebulae are found—
G. W. Gray †1960
G. W. Gray †1960
c
: a part of a garden devoted to wild growth
2
obsolete
: wild or uncultivated state
3
a
: a confusing multitude or mass : an indefinitely great number or quantity
I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
b
: a bewildering situation
those moral wildernesses of civilized life—Norman Mailer
Norman MailerExamples of wilderness in a Sentence
She enjoys hikes through the wilderness.
released the wolf back into the wilderness
Recent Examples on the Web
The Science Behind Why Wolves Run In Packs Picture a pack of wolves in the wilderness stalking prey.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
That is my passion, being able to get out in the wilderness, have these authentic experiences and share them.
—Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
When Trump won in 2024 after four years in the political wilderness, these deficits were on a path to get worse, not better.
—Jeremy Lott, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
The park offers canoe rentals at its Visitor Center boat dock and boasts three hiking trails through the wilderness.
—Kristy Christiansen, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wilderness
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Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
That is my passion, being able to get out in the wilderness, have these authentic experiences and share them.
—Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
When Trump won in 2024 after four years in the political wilderness, these deficits were on a path to get worse, not better.
—Jeremy Lott, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
The park offers canoe rentals at its Visitor Center boat dock and boasts three hiking trails through the wilderness.
—Kristy Christiansen, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wilderness
Cite this Entry
“Wilderness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wilderness. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wilderness
noun
wil·der·ness
ˈwil-dər-nəs
: an area in which few people live that is not used for farming and is more or less in its natural state
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