earthwork

noun

earth·​work ˈərth-ˌwərk 

1

: an embankment or other construction made of earth

especially : one used as a field fortification

2

: the operations connected with excavations and embankments of earth

3

: a work of art consisting of a portion of land modified by an artist

Examples of earthwork in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It's thought that people would have celebrated the solstice at the site around the same time as the very first earthworks were built at Stonehenge. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

This is around the same time that the first earthworks at Stonehenge were built, while the famous stones weren’t put in place until 500 years later. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 18 June 2026

Artist Stan Herd created a massive quarter-acre Algerian flag earthwork near the Lied Center on west campus. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

More than 200 of these earthworks have been preserved at Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa. — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for earthwork

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• falsework

Kids Definition

earthwork

noun

earth·​work -ˌwərk 

: something (as a raised bank or wall) constructed out of earth especially for protection