landmark

plural landmarks · alternative land-mark · alternative land mark

1. historicalAn object that marks the boundary of a piece of land (usually a stone, or a tree).

   Synonyms: merestone

2. A recognizable natural or man-made feature used for navigation.

   Anyone have any weird landmarks they often remember seeing along roads in the olden days?

   2005 January 22, misc.transport.road (Usenet)

   1 more example

   Pilots flew at relatively low altitudes to identify ground landmarks, such as railroad tracks, rivers, highways, and distinctive towns.

   2026 March 7, Sthitapragta Chakraborty, “America Once Built Giant Arrows to Guide Pilots Across the Country, and Some Still Exist Today”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 24 Jul 2026

   Synonyms: marker, mark

3. A notable location with historical, cultural, or geographical significance.

   Founded in 1876 by disheartened gold prospectors, today downtown Rapid City is a mix of historic landmarks such as the 1928 Hotel Alex Johnson and the 1912 Elks Theatre, along with restaurants, coffee shops, specialty stores, boutiques and art galleries that reflect the busy modern city.

   2025 August 19, Tanya Manus, “‘Far more than just Mount Rushmore’: A closer look at Rapid City”, in CNN, archived from the original on 22 Aug 2025

   Synonyms: monument, sight

4. alsoattributivefigurativelyA major event or discovery.

   a landmark ruling/case

   5 more examples

   an important landmark in human history

   a landmark paper in neurosurgery

   He called the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and the recent elections in Afghanistan landmark events in the history of liberty.

   2005 January 19, “Bush thanks troops at gala event”, in CNN, archived from the original on 07 Jun 2019

   Leicester closed out the win to spark emotional scenes as those inside Wembley rejoiced in a landmark victory.

   2021 May 15, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-1 Leicester”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 16 May 2021

   Screen time for babies and toddlers under the age of two has been linked with long-term negative effects on health and quality of life and should be avoided, according to a landmark study.

   2026 June 27, Sally Weale, “Screen time can damage under-twos’ development, landmark study suggests”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Synonyms: milestone

present singular third person landmarks · participle present landmarking · participle past landmarked · past landmarked · alternative land-mark · alternative land mark

1. USTo officially designate a site or building as a landmark.

   St Mary's Church stands on the north side of the village, a building of flint and stone with a 140 ft high steeple that landmarks one of the most beautiful churches in Suffolk.

   1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 413, about Woolpit

   1 more example

   “Permitted demolition or stripping rarely occurs on landmarked buildings,” she said. Ms. de Bourbon also noted that the city already requires the Buildings Department to hold permits for 40 days for “calendared” properties — those currently under landmarks consideration — so the commission has a chance to designate them.

   2007 March 25, Jeff Vandam, “Preservationists’ Rallying Cry”, in New York Times