French word

rempart

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁɑ̃paʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounrampart

Example

On voit encore les remparts de la cité médiévale.

You can still see the ramparts of the medieval city.

Illustration for rempart (rampart)

More examples

Les enfants jouent près des remparts pendant la fête.

The children play near the ramparts during the festival.

Core concept

A fortified ring around a settlement, forming a protective boundary between its inhabitants and attackers.

Similar words

mur: An ordinary wall forming part of a building or marking a property's boundary.
muraille: A historic stone fortification enclosing a castle or town.

Definition in French

Construction défensive, souvent en pierre ou en terre, entourant une cité ou un château pour protéger contre les assaillants.

Word origin

The French noun rempart developed in Old French from remparer, a verb meaning 'to fortify'; English rampart is a related borrowing.

Usage tips

  • Rempart refers to a defensive structure, while an ordinary wall is usually called un mur in French.

Other meanings

  • earthworknoun

Word lists with this word