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Landmark

n. hopeful, capable formal

What it means

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.

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.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
everyday
  • Landmark (this word)
warm
professional
formal
literary

Meaning 1: An achievement or event that clearly marks a major point in progress.

  • everyday

    turning point

    Fits when later events changed direction from this moment

    Careful A turning point can be negative, while landmark usually carries distinction.

  • professional

    breakthrough

    Fits when a stubborn barrier has finally been overcome

    Careful Breakthrough suggests discovery or sudden progress, not every historically important event.

  • professional

    milestone

    Fits when the focus is a stage reached along a longer path

    Careful A milestone need not transform the field as a landmark achievement does.

  • formal

    precedent

    Fits when the event establishes an example for later decisions

    Careful A precedent matters through reuse, whereas a landmark may be important for other reasons.

  • literary

    watershed

    Fits when you need a weighty dividing line between eras

    Careful Watershed sounds inflated for a useful but incremental improvement.

Meaning 2: A conspicuous place or feature used to recognize a location.

  • warm

    fixture

    Fits when a familiar place is valued for its long presence

    Careful Fixture emphasizes familiarity rather than help with navigation.

  • professional

    reference point

    Fits when people use the feature to locate or compare

    Careful Reference point is functional and lacks the physical prominence of a landmark.

  • literary

    beacon

    Fits when the visible feature also symbolizes guidance

    Careful Beacon adds a guiding or hopeful meaning that an ordinary landmark may not have.

Opposites 3

  • setback
  • obscurity
  • featurelessness

Common phrases 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.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated