bulwark

noun bul·wark \ ˈbu̇l-(ˌ)wərk , -ˌwȯrk ; ˈbəl-(ˌ)wərk ; sense 3 also ˈbə-ˌläk \

Definition of bulwark

1 a :a solid wall-like structure raised for defense :rampart

b :breakwater, seawall

building a bulwark in the harbor

2 :a strong support or protection

democratic principles that stand as a bulwark against tyranny

a bulwark of freedom

3 nautical :the side of a ship above the upper deck —usually used in plural

See bulwark defined for English-language learners

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Examples of bulwark in a Sentence

democratic principles that stand as a bulwark against tyranny

Recent Examples of bulwark from the Web

Many Wall Street analysts see Cohn as the most powerful advocate of economic pragmatism within the administration and a bulwark against populists on the Trump team.

— jennifer jacobs, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Thanks Mnuchin and Ross at Tax Speech -- But Not Cohn," 30 Aug. 2017
Indeed, protest and anger are essential bulwarks of democracy.

— franklin foer, The Atlantic, "Why Liberalism Disappoints," 8 Aug. 2017
One potential iRobot bulwark against these new competitors: a portfolio of 1,000 patents worldwide covering the very concept of a self-navigating household robot vacuum as well as basic technologies like object avoidance.

— mark dent, Alaska Dispatch News, "Your robot vacuum cleaner may be mapping your house for profit," 26 July 2017
Calls for a bulwark against unilateral action go back more than 30 years.

— the editors, Scientific American, "No One Should Have Sole Authority to Launch a Nuclear Attack," 24 July 2017
Turkey, long a bulwark against Soviet (later Russian) adventurism, has started to look wobbly.

— marc c. johnson, National Review, "As Turkey and NATO Drift Apart, Russia, China, and Iran Stand to Gain," 19 July 2017
And now liberal America turns to an opaque national-security apparatus, and one of its chief defenders in Wittes, as a bulwark against creeping fascism.

— simon van zuylen-wood, Daily Intelligencer, "The Man Who Made Liberals Newly Enamored of the Deep State," 11 July 2017
Free speech, enshrined in the First Amendment, is one of the bulwarks of individual liberty and equality.

— harry bruinius, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why journalism is shifting away from 'objectivity'," 6 July 2017
Suggesting that Poland was a bulwark against forces that would destroy Western civilization, Trump warned of the increased power of international organizations that threaten to undermine national sovereignty.

— gregory korte, USA TODAY, "In Poland, Trump draws battle lines against terror and bureaucracy," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bulwark.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bulwark

Middle English bulwerke, from Middle Dutch bolwerc, from bolle tree trunk + werc work

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

bulwark

verb

Definition of bulwark

transitive verb

:to fortify or safeguard with a bulwark

ability to bulwark a moral choice
—Margaret Mead

Examples of bulwark in a Sentence

vowed to use any means necessary to bulwark the country agai nst a terrorist attack

Recent Examples of bulwark from the Web

Even Einstein, the prototypical loner, was bulwarked by a vast correspondence of arguing and discussion.

— dennis overbye, New York Times, "Bob Dylan Won. But in Science, the Times They Aren’t A-Changin’.," 31 Oct. 2016

Origin and Etymology of bulwark

see ¹bulwark

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

bulwark Synonyms

Synonyms

defend, cover, fence, fend, forfend, guard, keep, protect, safeguard, screen, secure, shield, ward

Antonyms

assail, assault, attack

Related Words

avert, prevent; oppose, resist, withstand; battle, contend, fight, war; conserve, preserve, save; buffer, palisade, picket, wall

Near Antonyms

bombard, storm; beset, besiege, overrun; capitulate, cave, submit, yield

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

BULWARK Defined for English Language Learners

bulwark

noun

Definition of bulwark for English Language Learners

: something that provides protection for or against something
: a wall that is built for protection
: a wall that is part of a ship's sides and that is above the ship's upper deck

BULWARK Defined for Kids

bulwark

noun bul·wark \ ˈbu̇l-wərk \

Definition of bulwark for Students

1 :a solid structure like a wall built for defense against an enemy

2 :something that defends or protects

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bulwark

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