boulevard

noun

bou·​le·​vard ˈbu̇-lə-ˌvärd How to pronounce boulevard (audio)
ˈbü-,
 also  ˈbə-
: a broad often landscaped thoroughfare

Examples of boulevard in a Sentence

the city is celebrated for its broad, tree-lined boulevards
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Few cities in the world exude such intrigue as Paris, where every boulevard seems to hide a story and every building appears a work of art. Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025 Two Palestinians from the West Bank opened fire on a major boulevard and light rail station in the Tel Aviv area, killing seven people and leaving many others wounded. Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 In October 2024, two Hamas militants opened fire on a popular boulevard in southern Tel Aviv, killing seven people. Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025 Vienna, Austria Balancing imperial legacy with modern rhythm, Vienna’s core is shaped by the Ringstrasse—a grand circular boulevard—where trams loop past the Hofburg Palace, the State Opera, and parliament’s Greek Revival columns. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for boulevard

Word History

Etymology

French, modification of Middle Dutch bolwerc bulwark

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boulevard was in 1763

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Cite this Entry

“Boulevard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boulevard. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

boulevard

noun
bou·​le·​vard ˈbu̇l-ə-ˌvärd How to pronounce boulevard (audio)
ˈbül-
: a wide avenue often having grass strips with trees along its center or sides
Etymology

from French boulevard "walkway lined with trees," derived from early Dutch bolwerc "bulwark, rampart"; so called because the earliest boulevards were at sites of razed fortifications — related to bulwark

More from Merriam-Webster on boulevard

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