terrain

noun

ter·​rain tə-ˈrān 

 also  te-

1

a(1)

: a geographic area

(2)

: a piece of land : ground

b

: the physical features of a tract of land

2

: terrane sense 1

3

a

: a field of knowledge or interest

b

: environment, milieu

Synonyms

• area
• arena
• bailiwick
• barony
• business
• circle
• demesne
• department
• discipline
• domain
• element
• fief
• fiefdom
• field
• firmament
• front
• game
• kingdom
• line
• precinct
• province
• realm
• specialty
• sphere
• walk

Examples of terrain in a Sentence

We had to drive over some rough terrain.

We hiked through a variety of terrains.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her many books explored this rich terrain of Black thought, one marked by anger and beauty and wry social commentary. —Kevin Young, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024

Others walk several hours each way, often across rough terrain, leaving them vulnerable to punishing weather and even violence. —Cynthia Tully, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

But the elements … the weather, the terrain … those are really characters in this thing. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2024

About 2,880 farms are dedicated Christmas-tree growing farms, and another 13,000 or so sell some Christmas trees, alongside more traditional farming crops such as vegetables or grains, depending on the terrain, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. —Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, land, ground, from Old French terrein, from Vulgar Latin *terranum, alteration of Latin terrenum, from neuter of terrenus of earth — more at terrene

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing terrain

• all-terrain vehicle

Kids Definition

terrain

noun

ter·​rain tə-ˈrān 

 also  te-

: the surface features of an area of land

rough terrain