1
a
: a firm upright support for a superstructure : post entry 1
b
: a usually ornamental column or shaft
especially
: one standing alone for a monument
2
a
: a supporting, integral, or upstanding member or part
a pillar of society
b
: a fundamental precept
the five pillars of Islam
3
: a solid mass of coal, rock, or ore left standing to support a mine roof
4
: a body part that resembles a column
pillarless
adjective
Examples of pillar in a Sentence
Noun
the ancient Greek temple boasted graceful marble pillars with richly ornamented tops
my father has been my pillar throughout this crisis
Recent Examples on the Web
Stepheny Price, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2023
The hangar doors and their supporting concrete pillars will be stabilized and left in place for the time being.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2023
These are the pillars of protection against infection from pretty much every pathogen.
—WIRED, 19 Nov. 2023
The result is a kind of tug-of-war between two of the economy’s main pillars.
—Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Todd says the service will also provide users suggestions on how to improve their rankings and hit goals built on the TIM pillars.
—Byeamon Barrett, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023
Bolstering medical support staff and access to medical care is one pillar of aid response, Peeperkorn added.
—NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
Research from Harvard found our happiness depends on the strength of our social ties, so prioritizing connection and kindness relationally is an essential pillar.
—Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 14 Nov. 2023
Programming themes rotate on a four-day schedule tied to the pillars of La’i (tranquil, harmony), Ala (awaken), Konea (restored), and A’o (to acquire knowledge) so guests can expect anything from poolside acupuncture and sunrise yoga flows to aquatic sound baths and Ayurveda tea ceremonies.
—Debbi Kickham, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Saskia Solomon, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2023
Just one practical example of that purpose in action concerns pillars 3 and 4, and Monin’s 15-year quest to help avoid colony collapse among the US bee population.
—Simon Mainwaring, Forbes, 17 July 2023
The light frayed, ghostly pillars shifting, the voice of God made visible.
—Hazlitt, 7 June 2023
Some of this light comes back toward the metalens, which is pointed, pillars out, toward the scene.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 May 2023
You’re allowed to have Facebook pages that pillar the leaders and.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 23 Jan. 2023
The tall windows, pillared facade, rooftop balustrade, and 90-foot-high rotunda of the main building give it the look of a chateau.
—Adam Hochschild, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2019
The recovery initiative is pillared by a breeding program and habitat safeguards.
—Helena Amante, Smithsonian, 8 Oct. 2019
The team started working on the research which initially began in 2014 with the Staghorn coral, but then the focus shifted to pillar coral because of a disease that has been devastating to the Florida Reef Tract.
—Lauren M. Johnson, CNN, 21 Aug. 2019
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Noun
Newsom added that authorities have conducted samples underneath the concrete pillars and crews will continue to fix up the site, emphasizing the work will continue around the clock.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2023
The hangar doors and their supporting concrete pillars will be stabilized and left in place for the time being.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2023
These are the pillars of protection against infection from pretty much every pathogen.
—WIRED, 19 Nov. 2023
The result is a kind of tug-of-war between two of the economy’s main pillars.
—Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
Todd says the service will also provide users suggestions on how to improve their rankings and hit goals built on the TIM pillars.
—Byeamon Barrett, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023
Bolstering medical support staff and access to medical care is one pillar of aid response, Peeperkorn added.
—NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
Research from Harvard found our happiness depends on the strength of our social ties, so prioritizing connection and kindness relationally is an essential pillar.
—Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 14 Nov. 2023
Programming themes rotate on a four-day schedule tied to the pillars of La’i (tranquil, harmony), Ala (awaken), Konea (restored), and A’o (to acquire knowledge) so guests can expect anything from poolside acupuncture and sunrise yoga flows to aquatic sound baths and Ayurveda tea ceremonies.
—Debbi Kickham, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Verb
Growing up on this hilltop surrounded by vineyards, the siblings began work early and wore wooden shoes, saving handmade slippers for Mass.
Though money was often scarce, the family had as pillars their deeply religious parents: Teresa, who didn’t work outside the home, and Giovanni, a carpenter.
—Saskia Solomon, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2023
Just one practical example of that purpose in action concerns pillars 3 and 4, and Monin’s 15-year quest to help avoid colony collapse among the US bee population.
—Simon Mainwaring, Forbes, 17 July 2023
The light frayed, ghostly pillars shifting, the voice of God made visible.
—Hazlitt, 7 June 2023
Some of this light comes back toward the metalens, which is pointed, pillars out, toward the scene.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 May 2023
You’re allowed to have Facebook pages that pillar the leaders and.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 23 Jan. 2023
The tall windows, pillared facade, rooftop balustrade, and 90-foot-high rotunda of the main building give it the look of a chateau.
—Adam Hochschild, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2019
The recovery initiative is pillared by a breeding program and habitat safeguards.
—Helena Amante, Smithsonian, 8 Oct. 2019
The team started working on the research which initially began in 2014 with the Staghorn coral, but then the focus shifted to pillar coral because of a disease that has been devastating to the Florida Reef Tract.
—Lauren M. Johnson, CNN, 21 Aug. 2019
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pillar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing pillar
Dictionary Entries Near pillar
Cite this Entry
“Pillar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pillar. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
pillar
1 of 2 noun
pil·lar
ˈpil-ər 
1
: a firm upright support (as for a roof)
2
: a column or shaft standing alone (as for a monument)
3
: a supporting or important member or part
a pillar of society
pillar
2 of 2 verb
: to provide or support with or as if with pillars
a long pillared hall
Medical Definition
pillar
noun
pil·lar
ˈpil-ər
: a body part likened to a pillar or column (as the margin of the external inguinal ring)
specifically
: pillar of the fauces
More from Merriam-Webster on pillar
Nglish: Translation of pillar for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of pillar for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pillar
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