landslide

1 of 2

noun

land·​slide ˈlan(d)-ˌslīd 

1

: the usually rapid downward movement of a mass of rock, earth, or artificial fill on a slope

also : the mass that moves down

2

a

: a great majority of votes for one side

b

: an overwhelming victory

landslide

2 of 2

verb

landslid ˈlan(d)-ˌslid  ; landsliding ˈlan(d)-ˌslī-diŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to produce a landslide

2

: to win an election by a heavy majority

Examples of landslide in a Sentence

Noun

The earthquake triggered a landslide.

They were buried under the landslide.

The presidential election turned out to be one of the biggest landslides in history.

She won the election by a landslide.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While Republicans didn’t win in a realignment-like electoral landslide, Mr. Trump’s conservative populism won the policy debate decisively enough. —Nate Cohn, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024

Living under the shadow of Succession for its first two seasons, HBO’s hot business-drama delivered a landslide season three. —Vox Staff, Vox, 23 Dec. 2024

Verb

Climate woes are stacking up in the wake of such extreme heat, with widespread flooding killing thousands across Africa, deadly landslides burying villages in Asia, and drought in South America shrinking rivers. —Reuters, NBC News, 23 Nov. 2024

In rural Appalachia, where landslides scarred slopes and water thundered into narrow valleys, damage from Helene is severe and recovery slow. —Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

landslide

noun

land·​slide

ˈlan(d)-ˌslīd

1

: the slipping down of a mass of rocks or earth on a steep slope

also : the mass of material that slides

2

: an overwhelming victory especially in an election

won by a landslide