landmark

noun land·mark \ ˈland-ˌmärk \

Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of landmark

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

See landmark defined for English-language learners

See landmark defined for kids

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 of landmark from the Web

Brickwall Tavern, out of Burlington and Asbury Park, N.J., opened Friday at 1213 Sansom St., across from the landmark Fergie’s.

— michael klein, Philly.com, "Brickwall Tavern joins Center City pub lineup," 6 May 2018
The historic downtown is dappled with aging buildings -- some in disrepair, others just worn out -- and historic landmarks.

— bob rountree, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Levy County: Get away from it all, and enjoy the clams, on remote Cedar Key," 6 May 2018
But many traditions and landmarks from decades ago are still around today, give or take a few variations.

— jacques kelly, baltimoresun.com, "Jacques Kelly: One short block in Baltimore has run the gamut, from aspirin to alcohol," 5 May 2018
Vocalist-bass player Roger Waters put himself under the microscope when writing the landmark Pink Floyd album of 1979.

— david lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "Lindquist: 20 unforgettable nights across 20 years of writing about Indianapolis concerts," 4 May 2018
In 1941, Jacob Lawrence created a landmark series of 60 paintings chronicling one of the most epic movements in American history, the Great Migration.

— karen campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "Step Afrika! brings a sprawling canvas of African-American history to life," 4 May 2018
In a landmark policy shift, the Boy Scouts of America announced in October that the 118-year-old organization would allow girls to join for the first time.

— jill tucker, San Francisco Chronicle, "SF girl one of first to join Cub Scouts," 4 May 2018
Weller said Bradbury would have loved for the landmark library to be a center for imagination, where after-school programming and storytelling happened.

— yadira sanchez olson, Lake County News-Sun, "Chicago writing students get tour of Waukegan — 'the garden where Ray Bradbury grew'," 3 May 2018
Hobby Lobby made headlines in 2014 over a landmark challenge to President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, in which the Supreme Court ruled that requiring employers to cover employees’ contraception violated religious freedom protections.

— eli meixler, Time, "Hobby Lobby Is Returning Thousands of Ancient Artifacts that Were Smuggled out of Iraq," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'landmark.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of landmark

before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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landmark Synonyms

Synonyms

climax, corner, milepost, milestone, turning point, watershed;

conversion, metamorphosis, transfiguration, transformation, turnabout, turnaround;

boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, crisis, crossroad(s), crunch, emergency, head, juncture, zero hour;

Other Civil Engineering Terms

asphalt, ballast, barrage, cantilever, infrastructure, sluice

LANDMARK Defined for English Language Learners

landmark

noun

Definition of landmark for English Language Learners

: an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize
: a building or place that was important in history
: a very important event or achievement

LANDMARK Defined for Kids

landmark

noun land·mark \ ˈland-ˌmärk \

Definition of landmark for Students

1 : something (as a building, a large tree, or a statue) that is easy to see and can help a person find the way to a place near it

2 : a building of historical importance

3 : a very important event or achievement

The case was a landmark in legal history.

Medical Dictionary

landmark

noun land·mark \ -ˌmärk \

medical Definition of landmark

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

Law Dictionary

landmark

noun, often attributive land·mark

legal Definition of landmark

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