Remote, uninhabited, or uncultivated regions of land; wilderness areas far from civilization. Often used to describe areas in their natural state, untouched by human development.
From Old English 'wilde' meaning 'untamed, uncontrolled', related to 'will' in the sense of self-determination. The plural form 'wilds' emerged in the 16th century to describe vast untamed territories, particularly in reference to the American frontier.
The concept of 'the wilds' is deeply cultural - what seems like untamed wilderness to one society might be well-known hunting grounds or sacred spaces to another. European colonists often described landscapes as 'wild' that had actually been carefully managed by indigenous peoples for centuries.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.