Definition of "hinterland" in English

noun

1. The land immediately next to, and inland from, a coast.

2. The rural territory surrounding an urban area, especially a port.

3. A remote or undeveloped area.

4. (figuratively) That which is unknown or unexplored about someone.

   • Near-synonym: shadow

5. An area of land far from the sea.

6. (figuratively) Anything vague or ill-defined, especially something that is ill understood.

   • Near-synonym: shadowland
   • This approach utilizes concepts such as naming, describing, contrasting and equating to access the hinterland between structure and meaning, and to map out the subtle ways in which texts can naturalise the ideology of the perfect female form.