embankment

noun

em·​bank·​ment im-ˈbaŋk-mənt 

1

: a raised structure (as of earth or gravel) used especially to hold back water or to carry a roadway

2

: the action of embanking

Synonyms of embankment

• levee
• dam

Examples of embankment in a Sentence

the embankment is steep, so be careful walking along the ridge

Recent Examples on the Web

Five people were injured after two cars crashed and rolled down a 405 Freeway embankment near Burbank and Van Nuys on Saturday night. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026

They were found Wednesday afternoon in an embankment near the 33000 block of South Grade Road in Pauma Valley, less than three miles from the entrance of the state park. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

The highway patrol’s video snippet ended with the man still holding the blades and ambling down an embankment to the highway while an officer pointed a gun at him. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Lemmon attempted to abort the takeoff, but the plane barreled through a fence and crossed a five-lane highway before finally coming to a halt on an embankment. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

embankment

noun

em·​bank·​ment im-ˈbaŋk-mənt 

: a raised bank or wall to carry a roadway, prevent floods, or hold back water