landfill

noun

land·​fill ˈlan(d)-ˌfil 

1

: an area built up by landfill

2

: a system of trash and garbage disposal in which the waste is buried between layers of earth to build up low-lying land

called also sanitary landfill

landfill transitive verb

Synonyms of landfill

• dump

Examples of landfill in a Sentence

using landfill to dispose of trash

Part of the city was built on landfill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than sitting in landfills when a site is decommissioned, most of the materials used in solar panels can be recycled (though the process can be costly). —Anna Clark, ProPublica, 24 Apr. 2026

Currently, food waste accounts for more than half of all methane emissions from landfills. —Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026

Experts also say about 85 percent of all textiles wind up in landfills or are incinerated every year. —Catherine Salfino, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026

Developed to provide a user-friendly way for neighbors to better help one another, the groups also keep usable items out of landfills. —Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing landfill

• sanitary landfill

Rhymes for landfill

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• fulfill
• goodwill

Kids Definition

landfill

noun

land·​fill -ˌfil 

1

: a system of trash and garbage disposal in which the waste is buried between layers of earth

2

: an area built up by landfill