landfill

noun

land·​fill ˈlan(d)-ˌfil 

1

: an area built up by landfill

2

: a system of trash and garbage disposal in which the waste is buried between layers of earth to build up low-lying land

called also sanitary landfill

landfill transitive verb

Synonyms

• dump
• sanitary landfill
• tip [chiefly British]

Examples of landfill in a Sentence

using landfill to dispose of trash

Part of the city was built on landfill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, in Europe, many sports organizations have long made zero waste the standard, diverting 100% of waste from landfill through a combination of reduction, recycling, composting, food recovery, energy-from-waste, and rainwater and groundwater recovery. —Claire Poole, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025

To date, the site has produced 200 tons of biochar, diverting 800 tons of waste from landfill, said company founder Abdulaziz bin Redha. —Tom Page, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025

But this still means that most paper and plastic bags wind up in a landfill or, to a lesser extent, in an incinerator. —Rachel Nuwer, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025

Environmental groups say most landfills aren’t equipped to handle it without risking air and water pollution. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing landfill

• sanitary landfill

Rhymes for landfill

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• fulfill
• goodwill

Kids Definition

landfill

noun

land·​fill -ˌfil 

1

: a system of trash and garbage disposal in which the waste is buried between layers of earth

2

: an area built up by landfill