bulwark

1 of 2

noun

bul·​wark ˈbu̇l-(ˌ)wərk 

-ˌwȯrk;

ˈbəl-(ˌ)wərk;

 sense 3 also  ˈbə-ˌläk

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

bulwark

2 of 2

verb

bulwarked; bulwarking; bulwarks

transitive verb

: to fortify or safeguard with a bulwark

ability to bulwark a moral choice

—Margaret Mead

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of bulwark in a Sentence

Noun

democratic principles that stand as a bulwark against tyranny

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Singapore also fears that ASEAN could splinter if member states are forced to pick sides, weakening the group’s ability to act as a bulwark against external pressure and great-power competition. —Lynn Kuok, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025

And voilà—America's chief constitutional bulwark against autocracy dissolves. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025

Verb

Greece was seen as bulwark against Moscow and its client states in southeastern Europe. —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 31 Jan. 2025

The Syrian port of Tartus has been a key hub for Russian vessels for more than five decades and has grown in importance since the start of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, giving Moscow a Mediterranean presence and bulwark against NATO. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bulwark

noun

bul·​wark

ˈbu̇l-(ˌ)wərk,

-ˌwȯrk;

ˈbəl-(ˌ)wərk

1

: a solid structure like a wall built for defense

2

: a strong support or protection

3

: the side of a ship above the upper deck

—usually used in plural

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bulwerke "bulwark," from early Dutch bolwerc (same meaning) — related to boulevard