frontier

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A border or boundary between two countries or regions.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'between' or 'with'.

   Patterns

   • the frontier between something and something
   • the frontier with something
   • cross a frontier

   The frontier between the two countries is heavily guarded.

   They crossed the frontier into Canada at night.

   The river forms a natural frontier.

2. 2nouncountable

   The outer limit of known or settled territory, especially in the past.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in historical contexts about the American West.

   Patterns

   • the frontier
   • settle the frontier
   • push back the frontier

   Life on the frontier was difficult for early settlers.

   The frontier town grew quickly after gold was discovered.

   The government encouraged people to move to the frontier.

3. 3nouncountablefigurative

   The most advanced or unexplored area of a subject or activity.

   Grammar: Countable; often used figuratively in phrases like 'the frontier of science'.

   Patterns

   • the frontier of something
   • a new frontier
   • the final frontier

   Space is often called the final frontier.

   Researchers are working at the frontier of artificial intelligence.

   The discovery opened up a new frontier in medicine.

Word forms

Common combinations

the final frontier

Space is often called the final frontier.

a new frontier

Gene editing represents a new frontier in medicine.

the frontier of science

She works at the frontier of science, studying black holes.

cross the frontier

We crossed the frontier without any problems.

Synonyms and how they differ

border

Border is more common for the line between countries; frontier often suggests a wilder or less settled area.

boundary

Boundary is a more general line that marks a limit, not necessarily between countries.

Opposites

Word family

frontiersman noun

A man who lives on the frontier, especially in the past.

frontier adjective

Used before a noun to describe something related to a frontier, as in 'frontier town'.

Commonly confused: frontier or border?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “frontier”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words