rampart

American  

[ram-pahrt, -pert] / ˈræm pɑrt, -pərt /

noun

1. Fortification.

   1. a broad elevation or mound of earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually capped with a stone or earth parapet.

   2. such an elevation together with the parapet.

2. anything serving as a bulwark or defense.

   Synonyms:

   guard, barricade, breastwork, fortification

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with or as if with a rampart.

rampart British  

/ ˈræmpɑːt /

noun

1. the surrounding embankment of a fort, often including any walls, parapets, walks, etc, that are built on the bank

2. anything resembling a rampart in form or function, esp in being a defence or bulwark

3. a steep rock wall in a river gorge

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verb

1. (tr) to provide with a rampart; fortify

Etymology

Origin of rampart

1575–85; < Middle French, derivative of remparer, equivalent to re- re- + emparer to take possession of < Provençal amparar ≪ Latin ante- ante- + parāre to prepare

Example Sentences

Mr Ambekar says that portions of an earthen rampart believed to have been built by the region's first settlers exists even today.

From BBC • May 5, 2025

More than just a simple barrier, Hadrian’s Wall was a cleverly designed military rampart manned by 20,000 troops.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2018

And the overwhelming suspicion was that he was looking for a rampart to which he could retreat in the event of outright civilisational collapse.

From The Guardian • Feb. 15, 2018

In the late afternoon, my guide Izabela meets me outside a McDonald’s next to a historic rampart that once was part of the city walls.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2016

He looked terrified as he stared into Dumbledore’s face, which was even paler, and rather lower than usual, as he had slid so far down the rampart wall.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• barricade