landline

noun

land·​line ˈland-ˌlīn How to pronounce landline (audio)
variants or less commonly land line
1
: a line of transportation or communication on land
especially : a telephone line that transmits signals from one station to another directly along a wire without the use of radio waves
It reminds me of the tipping point several years ago when people realized they no longer needed a telephone landline and would do just fine with their cell phones. Rana Foroohar
often used before another noun
a landline phone
a landline network
2
: a telephone that connects by wire : a landline telephone
Of course, if you're really worried, you could ditch your cell phone for a quaint landline.Kiera Butler

Examples of landline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Founded in 2003 by a group of engineers in Tallinn, Estonia, Skype was a pioneer in making telephone calls using the internet instead of landlines. Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025 Like old-fashioned landlines, Ooma phones aren’t as high-tech as smartphones. Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025 Nevertheless, there is a fleeting moment that suggests Jacob might be open to answering the call of one harbinger of the future — a landline phone. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025 Then, an even more ominous warning came: the landline rang. Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for landline

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of landline was in 1865

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Landline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/landline. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

landline

noun
land·​line -ˌ(d)līn How to pronounce landline (audio)
: a line of communication (as by telephone) consisting of a cable laid on land
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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