Illustration of caisson
- caisson 1b
1
a
: a chest to hold ammunition
b
: a usually 2-wheeled vehicle for artillery ammunition attachable to a horse-drawn limber
also
: a limber with its attached caisson
2
a
: a watertight chamber used in construction work under water or as a foundation
b
: a hollow floating box or a boat used as a floodgate for a dock or basin
3
Examples of caisson in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2024, Bally’s had to relocate the prominent hotel tower under construction south of the casino after it was determined that driving caissons into the ground might damage municipal water management infrastructure pipes along the Chicago River.
—
Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Built in 2009 on 75 bedrock-deep caissons, the 7,681-square-foot house offers five bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
—Sandra Barrera, Oc Register, 18 Nov. 2025
In June 2025, the caisson program restarted following an $18 million overhaul by the Army.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 July 2025
The refurbishment included a complete overhaul, including a paint job, the repairing of caisson cracks, window and door replacements, cleaning and re-pointing of the foundation masonry, restoring all wood floors, and reconstruction of the intermediate landing between the bridge and gangway.
—Michael P. McKinney, USA Today, 7 June 2025
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Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Built in 2009 on 75 bedrock-deep caissons, the 7,681-square-foot house offers five bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
—Sandra Barrera, Oc Register, 18 Nov. 2025
In June 2025, the caisson program restarted following an $18 million overhaul by the Army.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 July 2025
The refurbishment included a complete overhaul, including a paint job, the repairing of caisson cracks, window and door replacements, cleaning and re-pointing of the foundation masonry, restoring all wood floors, and reconstruction of the intermediate landing between the bridge and gangway.
—Michael P. McKinney, USA Today, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for caisson
Cite this Entry
“Caisson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caisson. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
caisson
noun
cais·son
ˈkā-ˌsän 
ˈkā-sᵊn
1
a
: a chest for ammunition
b
: a usually two-wheeled vehicle for artillery ammunition
2
: a watertight chamber used in construction work underwater or as a foundation
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