noun

bastion

BAS-tee-uhn

noun

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."

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

bastioned past tense, bastions plural, bastions singular

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Cannons were mounted along the _____ overlooking the harbour.

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

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