Mainland (Geography Dictionary)

mainland : A term used to denote a contiguous landmass or political territory relative to its politically associated but geographically remote outlying territories. It is variously used to refer to the continental (i.e. non-insular) part of a polity relative to its exclaves or oceanic islands; or to the largest or most politically, economically, and/or demographically significant island within an island nation. For example, continental Europe is often considered “the mainland” relative to the British Isles, while the island of Great Britain is considered “the mainland” relative to Northern Ireland and the many smaller islands that constitute the United Kingdom.