earthwork

noun

earth·​work ˈərth-ˌwərk 

1

: an embankment or other construction made of earth

especially : one used as a field fortification

2

: the operations connected with excavations and embankments of earth

3

: a work of art consisting of a portion of land modified by an artist

Examples of earthwork in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As reported by Heritage Daily, the new findings—published in the journal Nature—include signs of hundreds of earthworks that had not previously been identified. — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026

Each strand is like a beautiful clump of calligraphy all tangled up in itself, as captivating and lonely as any earthwork. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

Artist Stan Herd created a massive quarter-acre Algerian flag earthwork near the Lied Center on west campus. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

More than 200 of these earthworks have been preserved at Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa. — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for earthwork

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• falsework

Kids Definition

earthwork

noun

earth·​work -ˌwərk 

: something (as a raised bank or wall) constructed out of earth especially for protection