# anchorage

/ˈæŋkɝədʒ/ (US) · /ˈænkəɹɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anchorage
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. place for ships

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a safe area in a harbor or sea where a ship can drop its anchor.

For teachers: a designated area, such as a harbor or offshore zone, suitable for a vessel to lie at anchor.

- The captain looked for a safe anchorage to wait out the storm.
- The bay provides an excellent natural anchorage, protected from the prevailing winds by a high ridge of coastal cliffs.

Usage: Often used with 'safe' or 'secure'.

### 2. source of security

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

something that gives you a feeling of safety or stability.

For teachers: a person, thing, or idea that provides a reliable basis for security or emotional stability.

- For many people, their family is their main anchorage in a changing world.
- In times of economic upheaval, gold has traditionally served as a financial anchorage for cautious investors.

Teaching tip: This is a metaphorical extension of the nautical sense; it implies being 'held' safely in place.

### 3. medical fixation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way to fix a part of the body in place during surgery.

For teachers: the surgical fixation of an organ or the use of a stable point to move teeth in orthodontics.

- The surgeon used a special technique for the anchorage of the displaced organ.
- Orthodontic treatment often requires skeletal anchorage to ensure that specific teeth move without affecting the position of others.

### 4. city in Alaska

noun · CEFR B1

the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska.

For teachers: the most populous city in Alaska, serving as a major transport and commercial hub.

- We flew into Anchorage before starting our hiking trip through the national park.
- Anchorage serves as a critical node for international air cargo due to its strategic location between North America and Asia.

## Examples

- The ship found safe anchorage in the bay.
- The captain dropped anchor in the deep anchorage to wait out the storm.
- The natural anchorage provided a strategic advantage, allowing the fleet to remain concealed from enemy patrols while maintaining easy access to open sea.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.