noun

landslide

/ˈlændslaɪd/ · say it: LAND·slide

an overwhelming election victory

In From the Front Page

In more detail

1. (noun) a sudden fall of earth, rocks, or other material down the side of a mountain or cliff

2. (noun) an overwhelming victory or success, such as winning an election by a very large number of votes

Examples

1. The heavy rain caused a landslide that blocked the mountain road.
2. The candidate won the election by a landslide, receiving 80% of the votes.

How to use landslide

Landslide has two distinct meanings: the geological sense refers to earth or rock sliding down steep terrain, often caused by heavy rain or earthquakes; the political sense, now equally common, describes an election won by an overwhelming margin. The political usage has become so prevalent in media that it may overshadow the geological sense in everyday conversation.

Common phrases

landslide victory
landslide win
devastating landslide
catastrophic landslide
massive landslide
prevent a landslide

Synonyms

rockfall · mudslide · avalanche · overwhelming victory · runaway win

Opposites

narrow victory · close call · squeaker

Word family

landslide (n.) · landsliding (n.)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'landslide' to describe any large victory, but it specifically means an overwhelming or decisive one—typically requiring a margin of at least 10-15 percentage points in electoral contexts.

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