landline

American  

[land-lahyn] / ˈlændˌlaɪn /

noun

landlines plural

1. a circuit of wire or cable connecting two ground locations.

2. a telecommunications line, service, or connection that uses wire running over land or underground to connect to a network.

   telegraph and telephone landlines.

3. Also called landline telephone.  Also called landline phone.  a telephone that is connected by wire to a network.

4. Citizens Band Radio Slang. a telephone.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• landlines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of landline

First recorded in 1860–65; land + line ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

landline landlines

Millions of calls from customers were likely to have been mishandled over a three-year period which prevented or delayed them from switching to a better broadband, landline or pay-TV deal.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

So even as AT&T raised prices over the last year — her last monthly bill was $138 — Adams stuck with the landline, believing it keeps her safer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Black said Ofcom had introduced "further safeguards to prevent this from happening again", including its "One Touch Switch" process launched in 2024, intended to make changing broadband or landline providers hassle-free.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

The problem began when we unbundled, canceling our landline, which was like pulling the last thread that kept our lives from unraveling.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

“I got rid of the landline a few years ago,” Jessica added as she sat down across from them.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

The FCC decision does not allow AT&T to immediately discontinue its landlines, said Ryan Johnston, a telecommunications regulatory attorney who works for the Utility Reform Network.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Widow’s Bay is indeed a fusty place where everyone drives old cars, uses ancient computers and communicates on walkies and landlines since neither cell phones nor Wi-Fi connectivity works.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026

"Batesy lives in Houston and Steve in Dallas, I go see them once or twice a year and we still talk on the landlines," Allen said.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

Older people still have experience with landlines, when there was only one number per household.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

There would be nothing unusual about people sharing a phone when most of the city’s landlines had ceased to function.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers