embankment
em-BANK-ment
/ɪmˈbæŋkmənt/
A wall or bank of earth or stone built to prevent a river from flooding an area or to support a road or railway.
Can refer to both a flood defense (levee) and a raised base for transport.
The story behind the word. A simple combination of 'en-' (to put into) and 'bank.' It describes the act of creating a bank of earth to control water or provide a level surface.
Word relationships
- levee: A levee is specifically for flood control; an embankment can also support a road.
- causeway: A causeway is a raised road across water; an embankment is the bank itself.
Commonly confused with
- dam: A dam blocks water flow entirely; an embankment runs alongside water or supports a road.
Word family
- embank (verb): To confine or support with a bank of earth or stone.
Collocations
- river embankment
- railway embankment
- earth embankment
Example sentences
- "The Victoria Embankment in London protects the city from the River Thames." Urban Geography
- "The train tracks were built on a high embankment to keep them above the marshy ground." Railways
Memory hook
You 'bank' on an 'embankment' to keep the water out. A raised bank.
When not to use
Don't use for a simple pile of dirt; it implies a purposeful, engineered structure.
Fun facts
- The Thames Embankment was one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century, reclaiming 37 acres of land from the river.
Related words
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