landfill

noun

land·​fill ˈlan(d)-ˌfil How to pronounce landfill (audio)
Synonyms of landfillnext
1
: an area built up by landfill
2
: a system of trash and garbage disposal in which the waste is buried between layers of earth to build up low-lying land

called also sanitary landfill

landfill transitive verb

Synonyms of landfill

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Examples of landfill in a Sentence

using landfill to dispose of trash Part of the city was built on landfill.
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.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has found that in America alone, 85 percent of all textiles end up in landfills on a yearly basis. — Catherine Salfino, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 Everything that can be reused is, including these fixtures and fastenings, but a small percentage still goes to landfill. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026 As a result, sometimes tires don't get recycled, and are simply dumped in landfills. — Ben Coxworth october 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026 Food waste is a huge source of methane in Michigan landfills, estimates say, and accounts for millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in the state. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for landfill

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of landfill was in 1903

Phrases Containing landfill

Rhymes for landfill

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Browse Nearby Words

landfast
landfill
landflood
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Cite this Entry

“Landfill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/landfill. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

landfill

noun
land·​fill -ˌfil How to pronounce landfill (audio)
1
: a system of trash and garbage disposal in which the waste is buried between layers of earth
2
: an area built up by landfill
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