landline

noun

land·​line ˈland-ˌlīn 

variants or less commonly land line

1

: a line of transportation or communication on land

especially : a telephone line that transmits signals from one station to another directly along a wire without the use of radio waves

It reminds me of the tipping point several years ago when people realized they no longer needed a telephone landline and would do just fine with their cell phones.

—Rana Foroohar

—often used before another noun

a landline phone

a landline network

2

: a telephone that connects by wire : a landline telephone

Of course, if you're really worried, you could ditch your cell phone for a quaint landline.

—Kiera Butler

Examples of landline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to cellular customers, customers of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) using AT&T's wireless network and AT&T landline customers who interacted with these cellular numbers were also affected. —Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024

The breach also included AT&T landline customers who interacted with those cell numbers. —Matt Egan, CNN, 12 July 2024

The affected parties include AT&T's cellular customers, customers of mobile virtual network operators using AT&T’s wireless network, and other phone numbers that an AT&T wireless number interacted with during this time, including AT&T landline customers. —Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 12 July 2024

Call and text records identify the phone numbers with which an AT&T number interacted during this period, including AT&T landline customers Counts of those calls or texts Total call durations for specific days or months. —Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 12 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

landline

noun

land·​line -ˌ(d)līn 

: a line of communication (as by telephone) consisting of a cable laid on land