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 of landmark

• milestone
• climax
• 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

Meta has moved to overturn a Los Angeles jury’s landmark verdict finding Instagram and Facebook are negligently designed to hook young users, after a 20-year-old woman won $6 million in damages. — Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

The landmarks can refer to the arrest location or a place near the arrest. — Mathew Miranda july 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

The housing bill, known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, is a landmark piece of legislation that includes dozens of provisions intended to remove barriers to building homes and lower the cost of housing. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 10 July 2026

Efforts to save the playhouse, widely considered to be one of the city’s leading architectural and cultural landmarks, stretch back to the abrupt closing of the debt-laden nonprofit theater in 2006. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for landmark

• ballpark
• benchmark
• birthmark
• daymark
• earmark
• embark
• hallmark
• monarch
• postmark
• remark
• skylark
• tetrarch

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