landslide

American  

[land-slahyd] / ˈlændˌslaɪd /

noun

1. the downward falling or sliding of a mass of soil, detritus, or rock on or from a steep slope.

2. the mass itself.

3. an election in which a particular victorious candidate or party receives an overwhelming mass or majority of votes.

   the 1936 landslide for Roosevelt.

4. any overwhelming victory.

   She won the contest by a landslide.

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verb (used without object)

landslid, landslid, landslidden, landsliding

1. to come down in or as in a landslide.

2. to win an election by an overwhelming majority.

landslide British  

/ ˈlændˌslaɪd /

noun

1. Also called: landslip. 

   1. the sliding of a large mass of rock material, soil, etc, down the side of a mountain or cliff

   2. the material dislodged in this way

2. 1. an overwhelming electoral victory

   2. ( as modifier )

      a landslide win

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landslide Scientific  

/ lănd′slīd′ /

1. The rapid downward sliding of a mass of earth and rock. Landslides usually move over a confined area. Many kinds of events can trigger a landslide, such as the oversteepening of slopes by erosion associated with rivers, glaciers, or ocean waves; heavy snowmelt which saturates soil and rock; or earthquakes that lead to the failure of weak slopes.

2. The mass of soil and rock that moves in this way.

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Etymology

Origin of landslide

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; land + slide

Explanation

When dirt and rock from a mountainside are sliding down, call it a landslide. Another kind of landslide takes place when one candidate soundly defeats another in an election. With either type of landslide, it's probably safest to stay out of the way! The political meaning of landslide is commonly used, but it's not the word's original definition. A geographical landslide occurs when a huge amount of earth slides down a slope or mountain, usually displacing rocks and vegetation and often houses and buildings as well. Landslides are caused by erosion, heavy rain, and earthquakes, among other events, and they're disruptive enough to give rise to the figurative meaning.

Example Sentences

In 1972, as he was preparing for what would turn out to be his landslide reelection that November, President Richard Nixon made an historic trip to the People’s Republic of China.

From Salon • May 14, 2026

The former government insider-turned-critic scored a landslide victory last month, pledging wide-ranging reforms to fight corruption.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

Hungary's new prime minister, Péter Magyar, is set to be sworn in, almost a month after he steered his Tisza party to a landslide victory, sweeping away 16 years of rule by Viktor Orbán.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Voters eager for change gave the country’s Hindu nationalists a landslide win in a key state where they had never before ruled.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Back in Pennsylvania, he had written a report predicting a giant landslide.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Related Words

• avalanche
• mudslide