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

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 notes

In plain EnglishThe moment a ship, plane, or storm reaches land after being over water.

Common pairings

make landfall landfall near the coast

Word forms

landfalls plural

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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.