buttress

1 of 2

noun

but·​tress ˈbə-trəs 

1

architecture : a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building

2

: something that resembles a buttress: such as

a

: a projecting part of a mountain or hill

b

biology : a horny protuberance on a horse's hoof at the heel see hoof illustration

c

botany : the broadened base of a tree trunk or a thickened vertical part of it

3

: something that supports or strengthens

a buttress of the cause of peace

buttressed

ˈbə-trəst 

adjective

Illustration of buttress

• buttress 1

buttress

2 of 2

verb

buttressed; buttressing; buttresses

transitive verb

architecture : to give support or stability to (a wall or building) with a projecting structure of masonry or wood : to furnish or shore up with a buttress (see buttress entry 1 sense 1)

also : support, strengthen

arguments buttressed by solid facts

Did you know?

The word buttress first budded in the world of architecture during the 14th century, when it was used to describe an exterior support that projects from a wall to resist the sideways force, called thrust, created by the load on an arch or roof. The word ultimately comes from the Anglo-French verb buter, meaning "to thrust." Buter is also the source of our verb butt, meaning "to thrust, push, or strike with the head or horns." Buttress developed figurative use relatively soon after its adoption, being applied to anything that supports or strengthens something else. No buts about it: the world would not be the same without buttresses.

Synonyms

Noun

• anchor
• pillar
• backbone

Verb

• sustain
• bolster
• support
• carry
• uphold

Examples of buttress in a Sentence

Noun

the mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying times

after the wall collapsed, the construction company agreed to rebuild it with a buttress

Verb

The treaty will buttress the cause of peace.

The theory has been buttressed by the results of the experiment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Turkey is also an important buttress against Russia and has been a diplomatic player on the Ukraine war. —Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025

The mountains rise up like a curtain wall, crowned by a long buttress of snowfields and ice against the blue sky. —Brian Mann, NPR, 24 May 2025

Verb

So that needs to be buttressed. —Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 24 Aug. 2025

Goldberg, co-chair of Paramount Pictures and Paramount Television, buttressed Ellison’s pledge to invest in strong family and YA-friendly movies and TV shows. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English butres, from Anglo-French (arche) boteraz thrusting (arch), ultimately from buter to thrust — more at butt entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing buttress

• flying buttress

Rhymes for buttress

• petrous

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Kids Definition

buttress

1 of 2 noun

but·​tress ˈbə-trəs 

1

: a structure built against a wall or building to give support and strength

2

: something that supports, props, or strengthens

buttress

2 of 2 verb

: to support with or as if with a buttress