landmark

noun

land·​mark ˈland-ˌmärk 

1

: an object (such as a stone or tree) that marks the boundary of land

2

a

: a conspicuous object on land that marks a locality

b

: an anatomical structure used as a point of orientation in locating other structures

3

: an event or development that marks a turning point or a stage

4

: a structure (such as a building) of unusual historical and usually aesthetic interest

especially : one that is officially designated and set aside for preservation

Synonyms

• climacteric
• climax
• corner
• milepost
• milestone
• turning point
• watershed

Examples of landmark in a Sentence

The Golden Gate Bridge is a famous landmark in San Francisco.

The battlefield is a national historical landmark.

The moon landing is a landmark in space exploration.

The decision was a landmark in legal history.

Recent Examples on the Web

The festival will take place across 35 Los Angeles’ landmark entertainment venues including The Greek, The Dolby, The Forum, The Palladium, The Orpheum Theatre, The Wiltern, The Hollywood Improv, and Laugh Factory. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024

When the county reached a landmark settlement in federal court with advocates for the homeless in 2019, coupling anti-camping laws with outreach services, Do was the face of the government effort. —Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Both offer classic landmark views of the London skyline. —Stacey Wreathall, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024

One of Venice’s leading cultural figures, Alberto is a landmark storyteller—the narrator of Venice. —Maddalena Fossati, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024

The 125-year-old landmark, located in New York Harbor, first became a processing center for immigrants in 1892. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Sinclair also faced charges of conspiracy to destroy government property in 1972, which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a landmark decision that prohibited the government’s use of electronic surveillance without a warrant. —Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024

Uniquely is a Sacramento Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Sacramento area so special. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024

Sugar loves Los Angeles — its architecture, its landmarks, its glamour. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

landmark

noun

land·​mark ˈlan(d)-ˌmärk 

1

: an object that marks the boundary of land

2

a

: a usually large object on land that is easy to see and can help a person find the way to a place near it

b

: an important building or monument

historical landmarks

3

: an event that marks a turning point

Medical Definition

landmark

noun

land·​mark -ˌmärk 

1

: an anatomical structure used as a point of orientation in locating other structures (as in surgical procedures)

2

: a point on the body or skeleton from which anthropological measurements are taken

Legal Definition

landmark

noun

land·​mark

often attributive

1

: an object (as a stone or tree) that marks a boundary of land

2

: an event or development that marks a turning point or stage

a landmark decision

3

: a structure (as a building) of unusual historical or aesthetic interest

especially : one that is officially designated and set aside for preservation