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

The cause of the landslide was not immediately clear. —Emma Bubola, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2024

Parts of Washington and Oregon experienced flooding and landslides. —Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 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