as in countryside
usually backlands plural
a rural region that forms the edge of the settled or developed part of a country
they purposely vacationed in the backlands to get away from people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backland
But more migrants, moving farther into remote backlands to elude the Border Patrol, have died in scorching desert heat, a shameful indicator that enforcement is having an effect in many places.
—
Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
His protagonist, living in direst poverty in Brazil’s arid backlands, decides to migrate to the wealthier coast.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Dec. 2019
Born in the arid backlands of Brazil’s north-east, Mr Gilberto arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1950 as a singer in one of the then-fashionable vocal ensembles.
—The Economist, 11 July 2019
Tucked in the emerald backlands of Fayetteville, Georgia, inside a cavernous soundstage at Pinewood Studios, Mara Brock-Akil is in full field marshall mode.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 19 June 2018
Patrícia Santos da Silva, 24, and her family live in the city of Santana do Ipanema, in the western backlands of Alagoas.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Nov. 2017
Some escaped and formed clandestine communities in the backlands of the rainforest, independent villages known as quilombos.
—Smithsonian, 21 Sep. 2017
Julia Preston, Foreign Affairs, 25 Oct. 2024
His protagonist, living in direst poverty in Brazil’s arid backlands, decides to migrate to the wealthier coast.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 1 Dec. 2019
Born in the arid backlands of Brazil’s north-east, Mr Gilberto arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1950 as a singer in one of the then-fashionable vocal ensembles.
—The Economist, 11 July 2019
Tucked in the emerald backlands of Fayetteville, Georgia, inside a cavernous soundstage at Pinewood Studios, Mara Brock-Akil is in full field marshall mode.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 19 June 2018
Patrícia Santos da Silva, 24, and her family live in the city of Santana do Ipanema, in the western backlands of Alagoas.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Nov. 2017
Some escaped and formed clandestine communities in the backlands of the rainforest, independent villages known as quilombos.
—Smithsonian, 21 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backland
Noun
-
Perched on a hilltop in the scenic countryside, the luxurious fort can be rented for roughly $13,300 per night.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The show’s postcard-ready shots of the northern countryside, with its verdant hills and winding roads, are another incongruity, belying the challenges of survival there for those on the fringes.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With ‘Marilyn Monroe’ and ‘Moonstone’ as its parents, the 5-foot-tall bush is very thorny and has very good performance ratings.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Set at an elevation of over 1,706 feet, the farm's undulating hills were lined with what seemed like endless rows of verdant tea bushes.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Topics ranged from the connection between housing and economic development to the presence of NIMBYism in America’s hinterland.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Quick, frequent rail connections between a large city and its hinterland are a fundamental of modern economic geography.—
F.K. Plous,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the hockey world, the borough would go from backwater to mecca.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In 2002 Bisignano took charge at a Citi backwater called Global Transactions Services that was then losing $3 billion a year.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to internal administration documents reviewed by The Associated Press, there are 47 third-country agreements at various stages of negotiation.—
STEPHEN GROVES,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Indeed, each of these three countries have sought to offer support to Cuba in recent days.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Users were able to comment on posts about the Australian outback incident by local news outlets.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The musical comedy, chronicling the lives of outback Aussie teens attending a debutante ball, was due to release today, January 15, in Australia.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The hilly frontier zone where the UNIFIL force patrols has seen decades of cross-border violence.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The hilly frontier zone is where the UNIFIL force patrols have seen decades of cross-border violence.—
Abby Sewell,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backland. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
