corniche

American  

[kawr-nish, kawr-neesh] / ˈkɔr nɪʃ, kɔrˈniʃ /

noun

1. a winding road cut into the side of a steep hill or along the face of a coastal cliff.

---

corniche British  

/ ˈkɔːnɪʃ /

noun

1. a coastal road, esp one built into the face of a cliff

---

Etymology

Origin of corniche

1830–40; < French, by ellipsis from route de corniche, route en corniche ( corniche rock ledge < Italian; see cornice)

Example Sentences

Luna El Bizri, the owner of Luna Pharm, the store destroyed in the attack, said her pharmacy’s neighborhood of Ain al-Mraiseh along Beirut’s seaside corniche had always been a haven.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

In the 1920s and 30s the Marine Drive corniche, with its Art Deco buildings was constructed, birthing a uniquely modern architectural style that departed from the earlier Victorian Gothic character.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

"It's like the sea. We used to go for long scenic drives on the corniche, but now we're losing both the sea and the tram," Abdelwahab said.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Fewer people initially stood along the corniche as a massive fireworks show suddenly went off, illuminating its skyscraper skyline to awed passersby.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2022

Mais bient�t apr�s, on monte par un chemin en corniche au dessus du T�sin, qui se pr�cipite entre des rochers avec la plus grande violence.

From Modern Painters, Volume IV (of V) by Ruskin, John