noun
rampart
RAM-paht
Rampart (noun) means a defensive wall or raised bank of earth surrounding a fort or town, often topped with a walkway. Example: “Tourists walked along the old city's stone ramparts.”
noun
1
A defensive wall or raised bank of earth surrounding a fort or town, often topped with a walkway.
"Tourists walked along the old city's stone ramparts."
"The castle's ramparts had withstood centuries of sieges."
2
Anything that serves as a protective barrier or defence.
"The coastline acted as a natural rampart against invasion."
How to use rampart
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA defensive wall or bank around a fortified place, or by extension any protective barrier.
Common pairings
city ramparts
castle ramparts
a rampart of defence
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Word forms
- Plural
- ramparts
- Third person singular
- ramparts
- Past tense
- ramparted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tourists walked along the old city's stone _____.
Etymology
From Middle French rempart, "fortification," built from re- ("again") plus emparer ("to fortify or seize"), ultimately from Latin roots meaning "to prepare."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “rampart” mean?
The word “rampart” means a defensive wall or raised bank of earth surrounding a fort or town, often topped with a walkway. In plain terms, a defensive wall or bank around a fortified place, or by extension any protective barrier.
How do you pronounce “rampart”?
“Rampart” is pronounced RAM-paht (/ˈɹæm.pɑː(ɹ)t/ in IPA).
How do you use “rampart” in a sentence?
Here is “rampart” used in a sentence: “Tourists walked along the old city's stone ramparts.”
What part of speech is “rampart”?
“Rampart” is a noun.
Where does the word “rampart” come from?
The word “rampart” comes from Latin. From Middle French rempart, "fortification," built from re- ("again") plus emparer ("to fortify or seize"), ultimately from Latin roots meaning "to prepare.".
How many meanings does “rampart” have?
“Rampart” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a defensive wall or raised bank of earth surrounding a fort or town, often topped with a walkway.
