landline

noun

land·​line ˈland-ˌlīn How to pronounce landline (audio)
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 That may have worked when most people called from landlines. Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024 The nationwide poll of 1,000 likely voters, taken Aug. 25 to 28 by landline and cellphone, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Susan Page, USA TODAY, 6 Oct. 2024 As recently as 2016, CNN’s late-campaign poll included more landline respondents than those reached by cellphone. W. Joseph Campbell, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2024 Fifty years ago, the only way a lawyer could communicate with his clients was in-person, by a landline phone, or by U.S. mail. John C. Goodman, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for landline 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'landline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of landline was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near landline

Cite this Entry

“Landline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/landline. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

landline

noun
land·​line -ˌ(d)līn How to pronounce landline (audio)
: a line of communication (as by telephone) consisting of a cable laid on land
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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