flood wall

American  

noun

1. Civil Engineering. a wall built along a shore or bank to prevent floods by giving a raised, uniform freeboard and by allowing unimpeded flow to water in a channel.

---

Etymology

Origin of flood wall

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

They said the Snohomish River is also experiencing major flooding and "dancing with records" as water laps against a local flood wall.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025

The force said agencies had "assessed the damage caused by the explosion with a number of car windows broken, the top of the scaffolding on the bridge affected and some damage to the flood wall".

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2023

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, when winds pushed high tides, Norfolk closed the gate on its downtown flood wall, but intersections blocks away still flooded.

From Washington Post • Oct. 5, 2022

As it became clear the water would not recede, Julia canceled physical therapy appointments and they began to construct a flood wall out of sandbags and plastic.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2022

A different crew maneuvered concrete molds on either side of a new 10-foot-high flood wall along the riverfront.

From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2021