buttress

1 of 2

noun

but·​tress ˈbə-trəs 

1

architecture : a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building

2

: something that resembles a buttress: such as

a

: a projecting part of a mountain or hill

b

biology : a horny protuberance on a horse's hoof at the heel see hoof illustration

c

botany : the broadened base of a tree trunk or a thickened vertical part of it

3

: something that supports or strengthens

a buttress of the cause of peace

buttressed

ˈbə-trəst 

adjective

Illustration of buttress

• buttress 1

buttress

2 of 2

verb

buttressed; buttressing; buttresses

transitive verb

architecture : to give support or stability to (a wall or building) with a projecting structure of masonry or wood : to furnish or shore up with a buttress (see buttress entry 1 sense 1)

also : support, strengthen

arguments buttressed by solid facts

Did you know?

The word buttress first budded in the world of architecture during the 14th century, when it was used to describe an exterior support that projects from a wall to resist the sideways force, called thrust, created by the load on an arch or roof. The word ultimately comes from the Anglo-French verb buter, meaning "to thrust." Buter is also the source of our verb butt, meaning "to thrust, push, or strike with the head or horns." Buttress developed figurative use relatively soon after its adoption, being applied to anything that supports or strengthens something else. No buts about it: the world would not be the same without buttresses.

Synonyms of buttress

Noun

• anchor
• pillar
• backbone

Verb

• sustain
• bolster
• support
• carry
• uphold

Examples of buttress in a Sentence

Noun

the mother had always been the buttress of our family in trying times

after the wall collapsed, the construction company agreed to rebuild it with a buttress

Verb

The treaty will buttress the cause of peace.

The theory has been buttressed by the results of the experiment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Together, the data points buttress worries from some Federal Reserve policymakers that the coast is far from clear for the labor market and may require more policy support — in the form of interest rate reductions — if the current state of play persists. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2026

Scaring residents about high crime levels that buttress against factual numbers that clearly show the opposite, only reeks of desperation. —Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026

Verb

There have been a few studies suggesting that Maurten’s version does indeed minimize GI problems and enhance endurance performance—not a huge body of evidence, but enough to buttress the widespread anecdotal tales of elite athletes relying on it. —Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 25 Feb. 2026

And for his part, Gertler brought in foreign investors to buttress Congo’s cash flow. —Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English butres, from Anglo-French (arche) boteraz thrusting (arch), ultimately from buter to thrust — more at butt entry 3

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing buttress

• flying buttress

Rhymes for buttress

• petrous

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Kids Definition

buttress

1 of 2 noun

but·​tress ˈbə-trəs 

1

: a structure built against a wall or building to give support and strength

2

: something that supports, props, or strengthens

buttress

2 of 2 verb

: to support with or as if with a buttress