English Reference
noun · verb

landslide

n. · v.
US /ˈɫænˌsɫaɪd/ UK /lˈændslaɪd/ land·slide UK spelling landslides

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a large amount of rocks and earth that suddenly falls down a mountain or cliff.

    n.the rapid downward movement of a mass of rock, earth, or debris from a mountain or cliff.

    Simple

    Heavy rain caused a landslide that blocked the main road to the village.

    In context

    Following weeks of torrential rain, a massive landslide swept through the valley, destroying several homes and severing the primary transport link to the coast.

    mudsliderockfallavalanche
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a victory in an election where one person or party gets many more votes than the others.

    n.an overwhelming victory in an election, typically one in which the margin of victory is substantial.

    Simple

    The president won a landslide victory, taking over sixty percent of the vote.

    In context

    Political analysts had predicted a close race, but the incumbent secured a landslide that fundamentally reshaped the legislative landscape.

    sweeproutwalkover
    narrow windeadlock
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical

    v.to fall or slide down a slope in a large mass of earth.

    v.to undergo a geological landslide; to collapse and move downward in a mass.

    Simple

    The saturated hillside began to landslide after the second day of the storm.

    In context

    Geologists warned that the cliff face was likely to landslide if the coastal erosion continued at its current unprecedented rate.

Usage landslide triggered · landslide victory

Hundreds of people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the start of the annual monsoon season in June.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026

Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is bidding for a second term leading the southern African country after defeating his arch-rival Edgar Lungu by a landslide in 2021.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

From land + slide.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated