noun
Uncommon
Bastille
ba-STEEL
Bastille (noun) means a fortress or prison, especially one associated with harsh or unjust treatment of its inmates. Example: “The rebels called the old jail a bastille and demanded it be torn down.”
noun
1
A fortress or prison, especially one associated with harsh or unjust treatment of its inmates.
"The rebels called the old jail a bastille and demanded it be torn down."
2
Capitalized: the Bastille, a Paris fortress-prison whose storming by an angry crowd in 1789 marked the start of the French Revolution.
"French people celebrate Bastille Day every July 14th."
How to use Bastille
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually refers to the famous Paris prison stormed in 1789, or, more generally, any prison seen as oppressive.
Common pairings
storm the Bastille
Bastille Day
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Word forms
- Plural
- bastilles
- Third person singular
- bastilles
- Past tense
- bastilled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rebels called the old jail a _____ and demanded it be torn down.
Etymology
From French bastille, "fortress" — the same word gave English "bastion."
Rhymes for Bastille
See all rhymes for Bastille →Frequently asked questions
What does “Bastille” mean?
The word “Bastille” means a fortress or prison, especially one associated with harsh or unjust treatment of its inmates. In plain terms, usually refers to the famous Paris prison stormed in 1789, or, more generally, any prison seen as oppressive.
How do you pronounce “Bastille”?
“Bastille” is pronounced ba-STEEL (/bæˈstil/ in IPA).
How do you use “Bastille” in a sentence?
Here is “Bastille” used in a sentence: “The rebels called the old jail a bastille and demanded it be torn down.”
What part of speech is “Bastille”?
“Bastille” is a noun.
Where does the word “Bastille” come from?
The word “Bastille” comes from French. From French bastille, "fortress" — the same word gave English "bastion.".
Is “Bastille” a common word?
“Bastille” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Bastille” have?
“Bastille” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fortress or prison, especially one associated with harsh or unjust treatment of its inmates.
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