English Reference
Noun

bastion

n. countable
C1 Advanced US /ˈbæstʃən/ UK /bˈæstiən/ bas·tion UK spelling bastion's, bastion's Architecture

n.a strong place that protects something important, like a belief or a tradition. You use it to describe something that stands firm against change or attack.

n.a stronghold or defensive position; figuratively, a person or institution that vigorously defends a particular principle or tradition.


SIMPLE

The library is a bastion of local history.

CONTEXTUAL

The university remains a bastion of academic freedom despite recent political pressure.

COMPLEX

In an era of rapid digital transformation, the old publishing house stood as a bastion of traditional literary values.

Season one of this feelgood and impeccably performed US Office-universe comedy saw ambitious editor Ned (Domhnall Gleeson again) take the Toledo Truth Teller from depressing clickbait factory to award-winning bastion of actual journalism.

The Guardian· 5 Sept 2026

First attested in 1562. From French bastion, from Old French bastille (“fortress”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old French -
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated