# rampant

/ˈɹæmpənt/ (US) · /ɹˈæmpənt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. heraldry

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

shown on a shield or flag standing on its back legs with its front legs raised.

For teachers: depicted in profile standing on the hind legs with the forelegs raised, as a heraldic beast.

- The royal flag featured a gold lion rampant against a red background.
- The family crest prominently displayed a griffin rampant, symbolising both vigilance and courage in the face of adversity.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialised term used almost exclusively when discussing coats of arms or historical flags.

### 3. architecture

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing an arch where one side is higher than the other.

For teachers: having one abutment or spring higher than the other, as in a rampant arch or vault.

- The architect used a rampant arch to support the weight of the stone staircase.
- The cathedral's flying buttresses utilise rampant arches to transfer the lateral thrust of the nave vaulting to the outer piers.

## Examples

- Inflation is rampant in the city.
- Rampant corruption in the local government made it hard for small businesses to survive.
- The report highlighted rampant inequality, noting how wealth concentrated at the top while basic services crumbled for the majority.

---

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.