breakwater

noun

break·​wa·​ter ˈbrāk-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

: an offshore structure (such as a wall) protecting a harbor or beach from the force of waves

Examples of breakwater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pilot project can generate up to 100 kilowatts of power — enough for about 100 homes — and company officials told the Times the ultimate goal is to install steel floaters along the port’s 8-mile breakwater to generate about 60 megawatts of power, or enough for about 60,000 homes. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025

And a stone jetty, or breakwater, to protect the harbor was installed in 2020. —Julie Depenbrock, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025

The Bayfront And Barge By the water, a giant ornamental stone barge juts into Biscayne Bay, designed to resemble a Venetian boat and double as a breakwater. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025

The breakwaters are expected to slow shoreline erosion and eventually lead to sediment deposition on the beach. —Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1769, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for breakwater

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• groundwater
• headwater
• manslaughter

Kids Definition

breakwater

noun

break·​wa·​ter ˈbrāk-ˌwȯt-ər 

-ˌwät-

: an offshore structure (as a wall) to protect a harbor or beach from the force of waves