landfall

noun

land·​fall ˈlan(d)-ˌfȯl 

1

: a sighting of land after a voyage or flight

2

: a reaching of land (as by a traveler, craft, or storm)

3

: the land first sighted on a voyage or flight

Examples of landfall in a Sentence

From the deck of the boat, we saw our first landfall.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lala's impacts were as predicted, proving severe effects can occur without direct landfall. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

The center of circulation, which is tracked by the hurricane center, must move over land for an official landfall designation to take place. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

Just missing landfall, the eyewall didn't weaken, and its winds pounded the mountainsides. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

Tropical Storm Lala is already soaking Hawaii’s Big Island and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane, prompting a rare warning for what could be the island’s first hurricane landfall in 155 years. — Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing landfall

• make landfall

Rhymes for landfall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

landfall

noun

land·​fall ˈlan(d)-ˌfȯl 

1

: a sighting or making of land after a voyage or flight

2

: the land first sighted on a voyage or flight