pillar

1 of 2

noun

pil·​lar ˈpi-lər 

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

pillar

2 of 2

verb

pillared; pillaring; pillars

transitive verb

: to provide or strengthen with or as if with pillars

Phrases

from pillar to post

: from one place or one predicament to another

Synonyms

Noun

• column
• pier
• pilaster
• post
• stanchion

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

Noun

Those pillars don’t change, but AI will influence how they are built. —Hunter McMahon, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

According to the European Space Agency (ESA), a pillar of cold gas and dust 9.5 light-years tall is unfurling along the length of the new image. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Apr. 2025

Verb

Analysts have tempered expectations that large-scale fiscal stimulus would directly pillar consumption, instead noting how struggling local governments would likely get support first. —Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024

Among these, the People pillar—upgrading talent—can be the most challenging yet vital step. —Mamie Jones, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English piler, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin pilare, from Latin pila

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1787, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pillar

• pillar box
• pillar of strength

Rhymes for pillar

• biller
• chiller
• driller
• filler
• hilar
• hiller
• killer
• quiller
• siller
• spiller
• stiller
• thriller

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