landline

noun

land·​line ˈland-ˌlīn 

variants or less commonly land line

1

: a line of transportation or communication on land

especially : a telephone line that transmits signals from one station to another directly along a wire without the use of radio waves

It reminds me of the tipping point several years ago when people realized they no longer needed a telephone landline and would do just fine with their cell phones.

—Rana Foroohar

—often used before another noun

a landline phone

a landline network

2

: a telephone that connects by wire : a landline telephone

Of course, if you're really worried, you could ditch your cell phone for a quaint landline.

—Kiera Butler

Examples of landline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These days, with landlines disappearing and fewer Americans willing to answer calls from unknown numbers, pollsters have started to diversify their approaches. —T.m. Detwiler, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024

Prior to getting a mobile phone just before the pandemic, Mercedes would walk more than a mile to use a neighbor's landline. —Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Dec. 2024

However, critics say landlines are a crucial service for people who live in rural areas with limited cell service, particularly older people who are more likely to rely on landlines. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 10 Dec. 2024

The latter, according to a company spokesperson, works like a traditional landline and is compatible with landline-using services, like fax machines, medical monitoring devices, alarm systems, and elevators. —Addy Bink, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

landline

noun

land·​line -ˌ(d)līn 

: a line of communication (as by telephone) consisting of a cable laid on land