Landmark
n.hopeful, capableformal
Meaning 1
An achievement or event that clearly marks a major point in progress.
Reach for it when giving historical or strategic weight to a genuine turning point
The ruling became a landmark in the campaign for accessible schools.
Choose between these
5- everyday
turning point
later events changed direction from this moment
not when A turning point can be negative, while landmark usually carries distinction.
- professional
a stubborn barrier has finally been overcome
not when Breakthrough suggests discovery or sudden progress, not every historically important event.
- professional
the focus is a stage reached along a longer path
not when A milestone need not transform the field as a landmark achievement does.
- formal
precedent
the event establishes an example for later decisions
not when A precedent matters through reuse, whereas a landmark may be important for other reasons.
- literary
watershed
you need a weighty dividing line between eras
not when Watershed sounds inflated for a useful but incremental improvement.
Meaning 2
A conspicuous place or feature used to recognize a location.
Reach for it when identifying something that helps people orient themselves
The old clock tower remained the easiest landmark for new visitors.
Choose between these
3- warm
fixture
a familiar place is valued for its long presence
not when Fixture emphasizes familiarity rather than help with navigation.
- professional
reference point
people use the feature to locate or compare
not when Reference point is functional and lacks the physical prominence of a landmark.
- literary
the visible feature also symbolizes guidance
not when Beacon adds a guiding or hopeful meaning that an ordinary landmark may not have.
Said against
3- setback
- obscurity
- featurelessness
It naturally appears in
3- landmark decision
The landmark decision opened public records to every resident.
- historic landmark
Volunteers restored the historic landmark without changing its stone facade.
- local landmark
The bright mural soon became a local landmark for cyclists.
Where this comes from
- merriam-webster, noun sense 2b opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- merriam-webster, noun sense 1 opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.