embankment

noun

em·​bank·​ment im-ˈbaŋk-mənt 

1

: a raised structure (as of earth or gravel) used especially to hold back water or to carry a roadway

2

: the action of embanking

Synonyms of embankment

• levee
• dam

Examples of embankment in a Sentence

the embankment is steep, so be careful walking along the ridge

Recent Examples on the Web

Search crews found Granbery on Sunday at the bottom of a steep embankment along Cabin Creek. — Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Granbery was located on Sunday at the bottom of a steep embankment with multiple significant injuries from a fall and from exposure, and was airlifted to a medical center to receive treatment, Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office said. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Photos from the scene show the aircraft off the paved runway and partially down a grassy embankment near the airport. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

At a road embankment in Utqiaġvik, our team used fiber-optic cables to collect temperature and seismic data. — Ming Xiao, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

embankment

noun

em·​bank·​ment im-ˈbaŋk-mənt 

: a raised bank or wall to carry a roadway, prevent floods, or hold back water