noun
landfall
LAND-fawl
Landfall (noun) means the first sighting or arrival at land after a journey by sea or air. Example: “The crew celebrated when they made landfall after three weeks at sea.”
noun
1
The first sighting or arrival at land after a journey by sea or air.
"The crew celebrated when they made landfall after three weeks at sea."
"The hurricane is expected to make landfall near the coast tomorrow morning."
How to use landfall
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe moment a ship, plane, or storm reaches land after being over water.
Common pairings
make landfall
landfall near the coast
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Word forms
- Plural
- landfalls
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The crew celebrated when they made _____ after three weeks at sea.
Etymology
From land + fall — literally the point where the sea "falls" away into land.
Frequently asked questions
What does “landfall” mean?
The word “landfall” means the first sighting or arrival at land after a journey by sea or air. In plain terms, the moment a ship, plane, or storm reaches land after being over water.
How do you pronounce “landfall”?
“Landfall” is pronounced LAND-fawl (/ˈlænd.fɔl/ in IPA).
How do you use “landfall” in a sentence?
Here is “landfall” used in a sentence: “The crew celebrated when they made landfall after three weeks at sea.”
What part of speech is “landfall”?
“Landfall” is a noun.
