seawall

noun

sea·​wall ˈsē-ˌwȯl How to pronounce seawall (audio)
: a wall or embankment to protect the shore from erosion or to act as a breakwater

Examples of seawall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For those structures, a hardened seawall serves as the core, buried beneath a sandy dune layer that often features native vegetation more conducive to wildlife habitat. Molly Duerig, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025 Coral reefs provide a natural seawall during tropical storms by breaking wave energy before the tides reach shore. Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 Regions across the Philippines have begun building towering seawalls to protect against storm surges, though many locals doubt their efficacy. Charlie Campbell, Time, 5 June 2025 In contrast, when waves strike vertical concrete seawalls, the energy is reflected back into the water rather than absorbed. Sara Pezeshk, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for seawall

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of seawall was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Seawall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seawall. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

seawall

noun
sea·​wall ˈsē-ˌwȯl How to pronounce seawall (audio)
: a wall or bank to prevent sea waves from wearing away the shore

More from Merriam-Webster on seawall

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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