bollard

noun

bol·​lard ˈbä-lərd 

British also ˈbä-ˌläd

1

: a post of metal or wood on a wharf around which to fasten mooring lines

2

: bitt sense 1

3

chiefly British : any of a series of short posts set at intervals to delimit an area (such as a traffic island) or to exclude vehicles

Examples of bollard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Village Board recently agreed to proceed with what officials called a compromise that would use temporary bollards to make the slip lane/Sloan Triangle area at times be closed off for events. —Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026

Each fence, bollard, and inch of blast-resistant laminated glass is a barrier between the people and their government. —Neil Flanagan, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026

The concrete barriers provide several benefits over the plastic bollards, Heyne said. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026

The lawsuit also claims the facility did not have adequate measures to prevent a vehicle from striking the building, such as bollards, poles, wheel guards, or bumper guards. —Victor Jacobo, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from bole

First Known Use

circa 1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bollard

• collard
• collared
• hollered
• lollard
• pollard

Kids Definition

bollard

noun

bol·​lard ˈbäl-ərd 

: a post of metal or wood on a wharf around which to fasten mooring lines