# bastille

/ˈbæstɪɫ/ (US) · /bˈɑːstɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bastille
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the historical prison

noun · CEFR B2

The famous fortress and prison in Paris that was attacked in 1789, starting the French Revolution.

For teachers: The specific fortress in Paris used as a state prison, the destruction of which is a central symbol of the French Revolution.

- The people of Paris marched to the Bastille to find gunpowder and free the prisoners.
- The fall of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, served as a powerful catalyst for the collapse of the French monarchy.

### 2. any harsh prison

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

A prison or jail, especially one where the prisoners are treated very badly.

For teachers: A figurative term for a prison or place of confinement, particularly one characterized by oppressive conditions.

- The old city jail was a dark bastille where no one wanted to be sent.
- Human rights activists described the remote detention centre as a modern bastille that ignored international law.

### 3. a workhouse

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Archaic

A name used in the past for a workhouse, which was a place where poor people had to live and work.

For teachers: A derogatory figurative term for a workhouse, reflecting the perceived prison-like conditions of such institutions.

- The poor families feared being sent to the bastille if they could not pay their debts.
- Nineteenth-century social critics often referred to the local workhouse as the 'bastille' to highlight its cruel treatment of the destitute.

### 4. to imprison

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

To put someone in a prison or to lock them away.

For teachers: To confine or imprison someone, often used in a figurative or highly formal context.

- The king decided to bastille his enemies to keep them from starting a rebellion.
- The political dissidents were bastilled without trial, hidden away from the public eye for nearly a decade.

## Examples

- The old castle served as a local bastille for centuries.
- The protesters viewed the high-security government building as a modern bastille that needed to be dismantled.
- In his political pamphlet, the author compared the state's censorship laws to a mental bastille that imprisoned the intellect of the citizenry.

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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.