adjective
landlocked
LAND-lokt
Landlocked (adjective) means Enclosed by land on every side, with no coastline or access to the sea. Example: “Bolivia and Paraguay are the two landlocked countries in South America.”
adjective
1
Enclosed by land on every side, with no coastline or access to the sea.
"Bolivia and Paraguay are the two landlocked countries in South America."
"Being landlocked, the nation relies on its neighbours for sea access."
2
US, real estate Of a piece of land, surrounded entirely by other properties with no access to a public road.
"The buyer discovered too late that the plot was landlocked."
"A landlocked parcel usually needs a legal easement before it can be sold on."
How to use landlocked
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShut off from the sea, or from a road, by the land around it.
When to use it
The real estate sense is a specialised US usage rather than everyday speech.
Memory tip
Think of the word literally: land has locked the place in, so there is no way out to the sea or the road.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
landlocked country
landlocked nation
landlocked parcel
completely landlocked
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Bolivia and Paraguay are the two _____ countries in South America.
Etymology
Formed within English from land and locked, describing something shut in by land on all sides.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for landlocked
See all rhymes for landlocked →Frequently asked questions
What does landlocked mean?
It describes a country or area that has no border on the sea because land surrounds it on every side.
Can a piece of land be landlocked?
Yes, in real estate a landlocked parcel is one boxed in by other properties with no direct access to a public road.
Is Switzerland a landlocked country?
Yes, Switzerland has no sea coast and is enclosed entirely by neighbouring countries.
What is the meaning of landlocked?
"landlocked" (adjective) means enclosed by land on every side, with no coastline or access to the sea.
