boulder

1 of 2

noun (1)

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

variants or less commonly bowlder

: a detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock

bouldered

ˈbōl-dərd 

adjective

bouldery

ˈbōl-d(ə-)rē 

adjective

bowlder

2 of 2

noun (2)

bowl·​der

less common spelling of boulder

: a detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock

Examples of boulder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That triggered 30-foot-high waves of boulders, water and ice that surged for miles downstream. — Mamita Bhandari, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026

In the near distance a great grey boulder rose above the red tufts. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Six plays later, the Tigers found the end zone, starting a boulder downhill roll directed by quarterback Sam Leavitt. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Rocks and boulders in and along creeks will often be slippery from years of erosion. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for boulder stone, from Middle English bulder ston, partial translation of a word of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect bullersten large stone in a stream, from buller noise + sten stone

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1607, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for boulder

• bolder
• bowlder
• colder
• folder
• golder
• holder
• molder
• moulder
• older
• polder
• shoulder
• beholder

Kids Definition

boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

: a large detached and rounded or worn mass of rock

Geographical Definition

Boulder

geographical name

Boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

city northwest of Denver in north central Colorado