pillar

1 of 2

noun

pil·​lar ˈpi-lər How to pronounce pillar (audio)
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

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
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 See More

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pillar was in the 13th century

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.

Kids Definition

pillar

1 of 2 noun
pil·​lar ˈpil-ər How to pronounce pillar (audio)
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 How to pronounce pillar (audio)
: 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

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