hinterland
HIN-ter-land
/ˈhɪn.tə.lænd/
The remote, rural area lying beyond urban centers or coastal ports.
Refers to inland regions dependent on or feeding resources to a major city port.
The story behind the word. Borrowed directly from German in the 19th century, where 'hinter' means behind and 'Land' means land. Geographers originally used it to describe territory lying behind a port coast.
Word relationships
- backcountry: Backcountry emphasizes wildness or isolation, while hinterland emphasizes an inland zone linked economically to a central port or metropolis.
- metropolis: Metropolis is a dense urban center, contrasting with the remote hinterland.
Commonly confused with
- outback: Outback specifically refers to the remote Australian interior, whereas hinterland is a general geographical term.
Collocations
- agricultural hinterland
- rural hinterland
- coastal hinterland
Example sentences
- "Raw agricultural materials were transported from the deep hinterland to the bustling port city for export." Geographical study on trade corridors
Memory hook
The land HINDER (behind) the main city: HINTER-land. Land behind the city.
When not to use
Do not use to refer to suburbs immediately bordering a city center.
Fun facts
- Nineteenth-century colonial cartographers coined the term to claim rights over land stretching behind trading ports they controlled.
Related words
Explore more words
remote, backcountry, outskirts, periphery, exurb, countryside
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