landfill

noun

land·​fill ˈlan(d)-ˌfil How to pronounce landfill (audio)
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

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.
Using safe, everyday chemicals—nothing exotic or dangerous—their technology recycles PET, polyester, and more, achieving a 65% lower CO₂ footprint compared to producing new plastics from fossil fuels while rescuing many tons of plastic from landfill. Marianne Lehnis, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 Funeral director accused of throwing pets in landfill Through about 20 veterinary practices and businesses, Vereb collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from pet owners who were promised a private cremation for their pet, prosecutors said. Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2025 Vegan leather made from plastic often have the a shorter lifespan, ending up in landfill or in donation centers faster than their real animal sibling. Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2025 The Los Angeles premium denim brand is partnering with Cotton Lives On (CLO), a U.K. program that diverts unwanted cotton textiles from the landfill and recycles it into something new. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Apr. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Landfill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/landfill. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on landfill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!