# rampart

/ˈɹæmˌpɑɹt/ (US) · /ɹˈæmpɑːt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. a protection

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

anything that acts as a strong protection against danger or outside influence.

For teachers: a figurative protective barrier or bulwark that defends against intrusion or attack.

- The new law was seen as a rampart for the rights of workers.
- Free speech is often described as the final rampart of a democratic society against the encroachment of authoritarianism.

### 3. to fortify

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic

to build a wall or bank of earth around a place to protect it.

For teachers: to surround or fortify a location with a rampart or similar defensive structure.

- The villagers worked through the night to rampart their small settlement.
- The general ordered the engineers to rampart the camp before the enemy could regroup for a counter-attack.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The soldiers stood on the rampart to watch for the enemy.
- The ancient city's stone rampart still stands today, offering a clear view of the valley below.
- Archaeologists discovered a series of reinforced ramparts that had been constructed to withstand the heavy artillery of the mid-nineteenth century.

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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.