noun
Uncommon
bastion
BAS-tee-uhn
Bastion (noun) means a projecting section of a fort or castle wall, built to give defenders a better line of fire. Example: “Cannons were mounted along the bastion overlooking the harbour.”
noun
1
A projecting section of a fort or castle wall, built to give defenders a better line of fire.
"Cannons were mounted along the bastion overlooking the harbour."
2
A place, group, or person that firmly protects and upholds something, such as an idea or value.
"The old university was seen as a bastion of free speech."
"The village remained a bastion of traditional farming long after its neighbours modernised."
How to use bastion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally, a fortified part of a wall; figuratively, a strong defender or last stronghold of something.
Common pairings
a bastion of democracy
last bastion
bastion of hope
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like bastion.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- bastions
- Third person singular
- bastions
- Past tense
- bastioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Cannons were mounted along the _____ overlooking the harbour.
Etymology
From French bastion, from Old French bastille, "fortress."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for bastion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for bastion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “bastion” mean?
The word “bastion” means a projecting section of a fort or castle wall, built to give defenders a better line of fire. In plain terms, literally, a fortified part of a wall; figuratively, a strong defender or last stronghold of something.
How do you pronounce “bastion”?
“Bastion” is pronounced BAS-tee-uhn (/ˈbæsti.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “bastion” in a sentence?
Here is “bastion” used in a sentence: “Cannons were mounted along the bastion overlooking the harbour.”
What part of speech is “bastion”?
“Bastion” is a noun.
Where does the word “bastion” come from?
The word “bastion” comes from Old French. From French bastion, from Old French bastille, "fortress.".
Is “bastion” a common word?
“Bastion” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bastion” have?
“Bastion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a projecting section of a fort or castle wall, built to give defenders a better line of fire.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include bastion:
