beachhead

noun

beach·​head ˈbēch-ˌhed 

1

: an area on a hostile shore occupied to secure further landing of troops and supplies

2

: foothold

Examples of beachhead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials have said that approximately 1,000 U.S. personnel would build the floating pier and an 1,800-foot two-lane causeway connecting it to a beachhead secured by the Israel Defense Forces. —Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024

The malicious image in this scenario will establish a permanent beachhead on the device that’s installed prior to the loading of the OS and any security software that would normally flag infections. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 17 Jan. 2024

Needing a strong performance in Monday’s Iowa caucuses, the first nominating contest of the 2024 Republican presidential primary race, the Florida governor has made the state his beachhead—even if his goal is to come in second place behind Donald Trump. —Eliza Collins and Alex Leary, WSJ, 13 Jan. 2024

The port will host some of the biggest cargo ships in the world and serve as an economic beachhead for China in Latin America, a region historically dominated by the United States where Beijing’s investment and influence is growing. —Keir Simmons, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023

The December concert is being seen by Global Citizen as the beachhead in attempts to establish an infrastructure that would allow Africa to begin catching up with other continents where major tours are commonplace. —Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Nov. 2023

There are myriad options for fine dining—from single tables lit by candles on solitary sandy beachheads, to your choice of restaurants serving bounteous fresh local fare. —Tom Weijand, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2023

Bombers droned across the night sky as soldiers scrambled onto the beachhead, taking cover behind huts and clusters of palm trees. —David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2023

But television was the beachhead the movies established in my mind. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

beachhead

noun

beach·​head ˈbēch-ˌhed 

: an area on an enemy shore held by an advance force of an invading army to protect the later landing of troops or supplies