escarpment

noun

es·​carp·​ment i-ˈskärp-mənt 

1

: a steep slope in front of a fortification

2

: a long cliff or steep slope separating two comparatively level or more gently sloping surfaces and resulting from erosion or faulting

Synonyms

• cliff
• crag
• palisade
• bluff

Examples of escarpment in a Sentence

the castle sits atop an escarpment that for hundreds of years made it virtually invulnerable to attack

Recent Examples on the Web

As sunrise paints the rocks crimson only the call of baboons echoing between rocky escarpments punctuates the silence. —Chloe Berge, Outside Online, 17 June 2025

Fun fact: The Pine Ridge is a 100-mile-long escarpment of sandstone bluffs and the main geologic feature of northwest Nebraska. —Brian Higgins, Outside Online, 20 May 2025

The rim is a 1,200-foot-tall escarpment that rises dramatically above a broad valley, giving you the perfect perch for spotting the show. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 3 Mar. 2025

The stately Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a ubiquitous presence in Quebec City, always peering down on visitors from its highpoint on the Cap Diamant escarpment. —Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French escarpement, from escarper to scarp, from Middle French, from escarpe scarp, from Old Italian scarpa — more at scarp

First Known Use

circa 1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

escarpment

noun

es·​carp·​ment is-ˈkärp-mənt 

1

: a steep slope in front of a fort or defensive area

2

: a long cliff