# pillar

/ˈpɪɫɝ/ (US) · /pˈɪlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pillar
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. architectural support

noun · CEFR B2

a tall, vertical post made of stone, wood, or metal used to support a roof or decorate a building.

For teachers: a vertical structural member, typically cylindrical or square, used to support a weight or serving as an ornamental feature.

- The roof of the ancient temple was held up by massive stone pillars.
- The architect incorporated slender steel pillars into the design to maintain an open floor plan while supporting the weight of the upper gallery.

### 2. important person or idea

noun · CEFR B2

a person or an idea that is a very important and reliable part of something.

For teachers: a person or abstract principle that provides essential support or stability to a community, system, or organisation.

- My grandmother was a pillar of the local community for over fifty years.
- Freedom of the press is often described as a fundamental pillar of a healthy democratic society.

### 3. natural rock formation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a tall, thin piece of rock that stands alone, often created by wind or water.

For teachers: a vertical, often spire-shaped, natural rock formation resulting from erosion or volcanic activity.

- The hikers stopped to photograph the strange rock pillars rising from the desert floor.
- The coastal landscape is defined by dramatic sandstone pillars that have been isolated from the mainland by centuries of wave erosion.

### 4. to support with posts

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to provide a building or structure with pillars for strength.

For teachers: to provide with pillars or to strengthen a structure as if with vertical supports.

- The engineers decided to pillar the old bridge to prevent it from collapsing.
- The vaulted ceiling was pillared with reinforced concrete to ensure the stability of the cathedral's expanded nave.

## Examples

- The heavy stone roof is supported by four marble pillars.
- She has been a pillar of the local community for over thirty years, volunteering at the library every weekend.
- The legal system rests on the pillar of impartial justice, without which the entire framework of democratic governance would eventually collapse under the weight of corruption.

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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.