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landline

American  
[land-lahyn] / ˈlændˌlaɪn /

noun

  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.


Etymology

Origin of landline

First recorded in 1860–65; land + line 1

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.

Mortensen would give his landline number at the draft to all the team general managers, reporters and other contacts around the league.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Setting up a landline for kids is one thing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Many with ties to Iran are still receiving landline phone calls from inside -- "quite surprising" given the internet blackout, said Mahsa Alimardani of global rights organisation Witness.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

The work became especially difficult at the height of the protests on 8 January, when Iran's government cut off internet, mobile phone and landline access for nearly three weeks.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

I know this because it butt-dialed our landline at home.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

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