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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

bastioned past tense, bastions plural, bastions singular

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Cannons were mounted along the _____ overlooking the harbour.

Etymology

From French bastion, from Old French bastille, "fortress."

Origin: Old French

Related words

Rhymes for bastion

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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.

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