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

In one incident, a 39-year-old man suffered a severe leg injury after crashing and rolling about 30 feet down an embankment. —Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026

But the flooding would be less powerful than at the old site, Wing said, and its impact could be lessened by elevating the hospital or building earthen embankments. —Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026

Local news reports confirmed the student’s car was found down a large embankment off of Malibu Canyon Road near Pepperdine University. —Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026

The man the woman was with exited the pond on his own, but firefighters used ropes and ladders to pull him up to the street as the embankment was steep and icy. —Timia Cobb breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 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