landmark

[ land-mahrk ]

noun

1. a prominent or conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide, especially to ships at sea or to travelers on a road; a distinguishing landscape feature marking a site or location:

   The post office served as a landmark for locating the street to turn down.

2. something used to mark the boundary of land.
3. a building or other place that is of outstanding historical, aesthetic, or cultural importance, often declared as such and given a special status landmark designation, ordaining its preservation, by some authorizing organization.
4. a significant or historic event, juncture, achievement, etc.:

   The court decision stands as a landmark in constitutional law.

   Synonyms: benchmark, watershed, milestone

verb (used with object)

1. to declare (a building, site, etc.) a landmark:

   a movement to landmark New York's older theaters.

landmark

/ ˈlændˌmɑːk /

noun

1. a prominent or well-known object in or feature of a particular landscape
2. an important or unique decision, event, fact, discovery, etc
3. a boundary marker or signpost

Other Words From

• un·landmarked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of landmark¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English landmearc. See land, mark ¹

Example Sentences

The landmark decision opened the door to the current showdown over potential remedies that could reshape the tech giant’s multibillion-dollar business.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2004, the team published its findings in a landmark paper.

From Science Magazine

In December 1997, the UK delegation led by the deputy PM played a leading role in agreeing the landmark Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

From BBC

Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, forged landmark deals between Israel and some Arab states and tore up the international nuclear deal with Iran.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2015, as part of the landmark Paris Agreement, developed nations promised to provide money to help poorer countries move away from fossil fuels and prepare for extreme weather.

From BBC

Related Words

• marker
• memorial
• milestone
• monument
• museum
• tree