frontier

The word “frontier” means the border area between two countries, or the edge of settled and unsettled land. In plain terms, a border region, or figuratively, the cutting edge of a field of knowledge.

“Frontier” is pronounced FRUHN-teer (/fɹʌnˈtɪɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “frontier” used in a sentence: “The town grew up along the old western frontier.”

“Frontier” is a noun.

The word “frontier” comes from Latin. From Old French frontiere, based on Latin frons ("front").

“Frontier” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Frontier” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the border area between two countries, or the edge of settled and unsettled land.

A "border" is the precise line that divides two countries or regions, while a "frontier" is the broader area along that line, or the edge between settled and unsettled land. A border is a boundary; a frontier is the zone around it and often carries a sense of wilderness or the unknown.

"Frontier" often appears in phrases such as "the final frontier," "new frontier," "frontier town," "push the frontiers," and "the American frontier." These uses stress either a physical borderland or the leading edge of progress.

A "boundary" marks where one area ends and another begins and can apply to countries, properties, or abstract limits, while a "frontier" specifically suggests the outer edge of settled territory or of what is known. Frontier carries a stronger sense of exploration and the beyond.