What does landmine mean?
A landmine is an explosive device placed on, near, or beneath the ground so that it detonates when a person, vehicle, or other target comes near it or activates it. Landmines have been used extensively in warfare and remain a serious danger in former battle areas long after hostilities have ended. Their hidden placement makes them particularly difficult to detect and gives the word an enduring association with unpredictable danger. In figurative use, a landmine is an issue, decision, or topic that appears harmless or manageable but could cause serious damage if approached without care. For example, a controversial policy may be described as a political landmine because it carries the potential to provoke conflict or institutional damage. The term is used in both British and American English, with the one-word spelling now standard and the traditional two-word spelling still encountered in military contexts.
An explosive device concealed on or near the ground and intended to detonate when a person, vehicle, or other target approaches it or triggers it. By extension, it can mean a hidden issue likely to cause serious trouble.
"The soldier carefully crossed the field after a warning that it contained a landmine."
The figurative sense is especially common when discussing sensitive negotiations, policies, or subjects with the potential to cause disruption.
To place land mines in an area, especially as a defensive or military measure.
"Engineers landmined the suspected route before the convoy was allowed to proceed."
Usually transitive and often used in the passive; it is less common than the noun.
The standard plural is "landmines"; the traditional two-word form pluralizes as "land mines."
"Specialist teams searched the shoreline for landmines left by earlier conflicts."
A landmine can remain dangerous long after the fighting that placed it there has ended.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does landmine come from?
English formed the compound landmine in the early 20th century from land and mine, with its military meaning established during the First World War. The component land derives from Old English land, while mine continues an Old English word associated with the extraction of minerals and ores. The compound was subsequently extended figuratively to refer to concealed matters capable of causing trouble.
Related word forms
How landmine is actually used
The one-word form "landmine" is standard, while the two-word form "land mine" remains traditional, especially in military usage. The figurative sense is common in formal and informal discussion and conveys a mixture of concealment and potentially serious consequences.
Easily confused with landmine
A landmine is specifically a concealed explosive associated with land, whereas a mine can also be a source of minerals, an underground passage, or another type of explosive device.