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

Orbán himself has largely kept quiet since his landslide election defeat.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

These alarums were greatly exaggerated, as Hungarian voters ousted Mr. Orbán in a landslide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Hungarian stocks rose to record highs and the forint hit a four-year high against the euro Monday after the country’s opposition Tisza party secured a landslide victory in parliamentary elections.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Shore Dock, one of the world's rarest dock species, went extinct from one of three locations it is found after a landslide in Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan, said Ellyn.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Burr had alienated Jefferson and the triumphant Republican party by his disloyalty as a vice president and had lost by a landslide in his bid to become a Federalist governor of New York.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• avalanche
• mudslide