German edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Bindestrich (hyphen) +‎ Land (state). Originally used of North Rhine-Westphalia, which was created by the Allied occupation authorities by dividing the Prussian Rhine Province and joining its northern half to the province of Westphalia.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Noun edit

Bindestrichland n (strong, genitive Bindestrichlands or Bindestrichlandes, plural Bindestrichländer)

  1. a state or political territory whose name contains a hyphen, with the implication that it has been arbitrarily created from merging two regions that share few historical and cultural ties

Usage notes edit

Declension edit