noun
wilderness
WIHL-duh-nuhs
noun
1
A wild, natural area with no human settlement or cultivation.
"They spent two weeks hiking through the Alaskan wilderness."
"Conservationists are fighting to protect the last untouched wilderness in the region."
2
A period out of power, favour, or public attention.
"After losing the election, the party spent a decade in the political wilderness."
How to Use Wilderness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn untouched natural area, or figuratively, a period of being out of power or public favour.
Common pairings
vast wilderness
political wilderness
wilderness area
Word Forms
wildernesses plural
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They spent two weeks hiking through the Alaskan _____.
Etymology
From Old English roots meaning "place of wild animals," ultimately combining "wild" with an old word for "beast."