landslide

1 of 2

noun

land·​slide ˈlan(d)-ˌslīd 

1

: the usually rapid downward movement of a mass of rock, earth, or artificial fill on a slope

also : the mass that moves down

2

a

: a great majority of votes for one side

b

: an overwhelming victory

landslide

2 of 2

verb

landslid ˈlan(d)-ˌslid  ; landsliding ˈlan(d)-ˌslī-diŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to produce a landslide

2

: to win an election by a heavy majority

Examples of landslide in a Sentence

Noun

The earthquake triggered a landslide.

They were buried under the landslide.

The presidential election turned out to be one of the biggest landslides in history.

She won the election by a landslide.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Earlier this month, SAG-AFTRA members reelected President Fran Drescher in a landslide. —Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023

The risk of a landslide increases after a wildfire because the extra dry ground can liquify more easily if exposed to rainfall. —Dan Lambe, Treehugger, 28 Aug. 2023

The only time in those seven elections when the state’s voters chose a Democrat was in 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson won the state in a national landslide. —Politifact Staff Writer, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2023

Shapiro, 50, who won his first four-year term as governor in 2022 by a landslide, is a politically ambitious rising Democratic leader who’s getting noticed in his party. —Steven Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2023

The Dodgers watched Trea Turner walk and will win the NL West in a landslide anyway. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023

Newcomer Ronald Reagan trounced him in a landslide. —George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2023

The bureau warned heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding and landslides. —Wayne Chang, CNN, 2 Sep. 2023

And in 2022, DeSantis won reelection in a landslide with 59.4% of the vote. —Raymond Scheppach, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2023

Verb

Of the 195 votes cast by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and select broadcasters, Bergeron garnered a whopping 160 first-place votes en route to landslide win. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022

Wins were not guaranteed to arrive right away, but Aston believed the Roadrunners could captivate fans with pace and enthusiasm, leaving behind the tendency to wilt or allow games to landslide at the first misstep. —Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 19 Feb. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

landslide

noun

land·​slide

ˈlan(d)-ˌslīd

1

: the slipping down of a mass of rocks or earth on a steep slope

also : the mass of material that slides

2

: an overwhelming victory especially in an election

won by a landslide