Wilderness

Quick meaning: Wilderness is a noun meaning A place other than land (for example, the air or sea) that is uncared for, and therefore devoted to disorder or wildness.

Meaning

A place other than land (for example, the air or sea) that is uncared for, and therefore devoted to disorder or wildness.

More Meanings

1. An ornamental part of a garden or park cultivated with trees and often a maze to evoke a natural wilderness.
2. Unrefinedness; wildness.
3. Chiefly followed by of: a bewildering flock or throng; a large, often jumbled, collection of things.
4. A place or situation that is bewildering and in which one may get lost.
5. (uncountable) Uncultivated and unsettled land in its natural state inhabited by wild animals and with vegetation growing wild; (countable) a tract of such land; a waste or wild.
6. Preceded by in the: a situation of disfavour or lack of recognition; (specifically, politics) of a politician, political party, etc.: a situation of being out of office.

Example Sentences

For ſtill he traueild through wide waſtfull ground, / That nought but deſert wilderneſſe ſhewed all around.

Behold, as wilde aſſes in the deſart, goe they foorth to their worke, riſing betimes for a pray: the wildernes yeeldeth food for them; and for their children.

Here they ascended, and anon appeared to descend in the same direction, finding only boundless wildernesses, and varied combinations of tangled woodland scenery.

Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company.

Word Forms

• wildernesses
• wildernesse

Synonyms for wilderness

Depending on context, synonyms include bushland, wild, wildland, wilds, wasteland, wasteness.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include wild, wildland, backcountry, hinterland, walkabout, ground.

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