What does land mean?
Land is one of the most versatile words in everyday English. As a noun, it can refer to the ground itself, a particular country or territory, or property owned for farming, building, or investment. The phrase “arrive on land” contrasts land with the sea, while “public land,” “private land,” and “land owner” describe how land is held or used. As a verb, land means to come down from the air or reach shore from the water, as in “the plane landed” or “the passengers landed.” It can also mean to arrive somewhere unexpectedly or finally settle into a position, such as “land a job.” Its broad range of meanings reflects its long history: the word comes from Old English and originally denoted the earth’s solid surface, before extending to territories and property.
The solid ground or surface of the earth, as distinct from water; also a territory, country, or property consisting of land.
"The island is surrounded by land on three sides."
When referring to a country or territory, the word can sound formal or literary, especially in expressions such as “foreign land.”
To come down onto the ground or shore, especially from an aircraft or boat; to arrive at a place or final position.
"The spacecraft landed safely in the desert."
In the informal expression “land on your feet,” the verb means to recover successfully after an unlucky or difficult experience.
The plural is used for separate territories, regions, or tracts of property, as in “distant lands” or “protected lands.”
"The explorer spent several years visiting remote lands."
The word land is older than the countries it now describes: it comes from Old English and originally referred to the earth’s surface.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of land
The word land descends from Old English land, meaning the ground, soil, or earth’s surface. It developed over time to refer not only to the physical ground but also to territory, country, and property. Its derivatives include landscape, landlord, and landless, all of which preserve the older sense of the earth’s surface or territory.
Related word forms
How land is actually used
The word is standard in British and American English. In the sense of arriving from the air or sea, it is often followed by “on” or “in”; the expression “land on your feet” is idiomatic and means to have a good outcome after a difficult experience.
Easily confused with land
A plane is an aircraft, while land is the solid ground or territory on which a person or object may be located.