frontier

noun

fron·​tier ˌfrən-ˈtir How to pronounce frontier (audio)
ˈfrən-ˌtir,
frän-ˈtir,
ˈfrän-ˌtir How to pronounce frontier (audio)
Synonyms of frontiernext
1
a
: a border between two countries
the frontier between Canada and the U.S.
b
obsolete : a stronghold on a frontier
2
a
: a region that forms the margin of settled or developed territory
were sent on an expedition to explore the western frontier
b
: the farthermost limits of knowledge or achievement in a particular subject
frontiers in immunology
c
: a line of division between different or opposed things
the frontiers separating science and the humanities—R. W. Clark
d
: a new field for exploitative or developmental activity
… the brain lies before us as one of the last scientific frontiers here on earth.—Robert Klitzman
frontier adjective

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of frontier in a Sentence

the frontier between Canada and the U.S. They were sent on an expedition to explore the western frontier.
Recent Examples on the Web Many in the field have long believed these to be outdated and have been encouraging alternative efforts and new frontiers. —Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024 VanDerveer, who turns 71 in June and is the winningest coach in college basketball, has given no indication of walking away with the program facing a new frontier. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024 For Angelenos with the curiosity and the means to travel to New York to know Korean food in new, posh frontiers, rewarding pleasures await. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024 This integration highlights the growing intersection between our digital and physical realities, with NFTs at the forefront of shaping how value and ownership are defined in these new frontiers. —Kyle Russell, Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024 In the realm of media and entertainment, AI represents a burgeoning frontier, offering promising advancements yet to be fully realized. —Dave Friend, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 Stanley described the situation as a new frontier in public safety and advised caution and transparency. —Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2024 Each tarot card, a blend of generative AI, digital painting and collage was our way of exploring this new frontier — a kind of roadmap for navigating the beautiful yet complex relationship between humans and machines. —Jennifer Sodini, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 Back in the early 1700s, though, western Pennsylvania was the distant frontier. —Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frontier.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fronter, from Anglo-French frountere, fronter, from front

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of frontier was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near frontier

front-foot rule

frontier

frontiersman

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Frontier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frontier. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

frontier

noun
fron·​tier ˌfrən-ˈti(ə)r How to pronounce frontier (audio) frän- How to pronounce frontier (audio)
1
: a border between two countries
2
a
: a region that forms the edge of the settled part of a country
b
: the outer limits of knowledge or achievement
the frontiers of science
frontier adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on frontier

Nglish: Translation of frontier for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of frontier for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about frontier

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