landlocked
Americanadjective
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shut in completely, or almost completely, by land.
a landlocked bay.
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having no direct access to the sea.
a landlocked country.
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living in waters shut off from the sea, as some fish.
adjective
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(of a country) completely surrounded by land
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(esp of lakes) completely or almost completely surrounded by land
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(esp of certain salmon) living in fresh water that is permanently isolated from the sea
Etymology
Origin of landlocked
Explanation
Something that's landlocked is completely surrounded by land, rather than by bodies of water. Oklahoma City is landlocked, but San Francisco isn't. There are many landlocked cities in the world, and if you live in one of them but miss the time you once spent on an island in Maine, you may feel landlocked yourself. There are only 42 truly landlocked countries in the world, whose borders don't touch open ocean. Historically, most of these landlocked countries have struggled economically, since access to ocean shipping makes it easier to export goods.
Vocabulary lists containing landlocked
Human Geography - Middle School
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Human Geography - High School
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Political Geography - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Landlocked Ethiopia, home to around 130 million people and one of Africa’s strongest economies, has been agitating for sea access.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
Landlocked Mali has struggled to contain an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2023
ECONOMY: Landlocked and poor, Kosovo hopes its mineral wealth will eventually unlock the foreign investment it needs to tackle unemployment of around 30%.
From Reuters • May 30, 2023
Landlocked Derbyshire is some distance from the south coast but in the picturesque town of Dronfield, about three miles from the Peak District, it was something that prompted strong views.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2023
Landlocked and protected from storms, it is the safest harbor on the Gulf Coast.
From The Industrial Canal and Inner Harbor of New Orleans History, Description and Economic Aspects of Giant Facility Created to Encourage Industrial Expansion and Develop Commerce by Dabney, Thomas Ewing
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
