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

Tourists sit on a bollard at the Sydney Opera House. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 June 2026

Aiello believes the bollard fence planned for the area will be just as bad as wire over time. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026

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

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