Definition of pillar
1a : a firm upright support for a superstructure : postb : a usually ornamental column or shaft; especially : one standing alone for a monument
2a : a supporting, integral, or upstanding member or part a pillar of societyb : 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
adjectivefrom pillar to post
: from one place or one predicament to another
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of pillar in a Sentence
the ancient Greek temple boasted graceful marble pillars with richly ornamented tops
my father has been my pillar throughout this crisis
Recent Examples of pillar from the Web
-
Trump, who seems determined to smash every pillar of former president Barack Obama's legacy, repeatedly cast the deal as a capitulation to the Islamic Republic.
-
TV footage showed a teenage boy crying for help as residents struggled with their hands to remove a concrete pillar that had fallen on his leg.
-
The new system, says Smart City, reduces gaps in coverage created by steel or concrete pillars and other architectural features that can interfere with the signal between the phone and the devices receiving the messages.
-
Promises of repeal constituted the central pillar of the GOP platform when the party was out of power in the White House.
-
Roughly 20 million people have gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act, a pillar of President Barack Obama’s legacy.
-
Although intimidating looking Kuznetsov is old and suffers from a variety of issues, including a breakdown in the Bay of Biscay and issuing huge pillars of billowing black smoke.
-
Security is extensive with pillars in front of the entrance, dozens of cameras and overhead metal gates both at the entrance and in front of retail showcases.
-
The diamond industry is a pillar of the Namibian economy, and De Beers expects its offshore operations to spur production until at least 2050.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pillar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of pillar
Middle English piler, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin pilare, from Latin pila
pillar
Definition of pillar
transitive verb
: to provide or strengthen with or as if with pillars
Recent Examples of pillar from the Web
-
The former governor of California took the oak in the marble pillared chambers of the Supreme Court.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pillar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of pillar
1787
PILLAR Defined for English Language Learners
pillar
playDefinition of pillar for English Language Learners
-
: a large post that helps to hold up something (such as a roof)
-
: someone who is an important member of a group
-
: a basic fact, idea, or principle of something
PILLAR Defined for Kids
pillar
playDefinition of pillar for Students
1 : a large post that supports something (as a roof)
2 : a single column built as a monument
3 : a supporting or important member or part He was a pillar of society.
4 : something that resembles a column in shape pillars of smoke
Medical Dictionary
pillar
playMedical Definition of pillar
: a body part likened to a pillar or column (as the margin of the external inguinal ring); specifically : pillar of the fauces
Learn More about pillar
-
See words that rhyme with pillar Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pillar Spanish Central: Translation of pillar Nglish: Translation of pillar for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pillar for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pillar
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up pillar? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!