pillar

American  

[pil-er] / ˈpɪl ər /

noun

pillars plural

1. an upright shaft or structure, of stone, brick, or other material, relatively slender in proportion to its height, and of any shape in section, used as a building support, or standing alone, as for a monument.

   Gothic pillars; a pillar to commemorate Columbus.

   Synonyms:

   pier, pilaster

2. a natural formation resembling such a construction.

   a pillar of rock; a pillar of smoke.

3. any upright, supporting part; post.

   the pillar of a table.

4. a person who is a chief supporter of a society, state, institution, etc..

   a pillar of the community.

5. a basis or support.

   The government regards agriculture and trade as fundamental pillars for the future economy.

6. a core tenet, belief, or religious act, especially in Islam.

   As the fifth pillar of Islam, every Muslim is obligated to make pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime as long as it is possible.

   The Ten Commandments are considered to be pillars of both Judaism and Christianity.

7. Horology. any of several short parts for spacing and keeping in the proper relative positions two plates holding the bearings of a watch or clock movement.

8. Mining. an isolated mass of rock or ore in a mine, usually serving as a roof support in early operations and later removed, wholly or in part.

9. Nautical. mast.

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide or support with pillars.

idioms

1. from pillar to post,

   1. aimlessly from place to place.

   2. uneasily from one bad situation or predicament to another.

pillar British  

/ ˈpɪlə /

noun

1. an upright structure of stone, brick, metal, etc, that supports a superstructure or is used for ornamentation

2. something resembling this in shape or function

   a pillar of stones

   a pillar of smoke

3. a tall, slender, usually sheer rock column, forming a separate top

4. a prominent supporter

   a pillar of the Church

5. from one place to another

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verb

1. (tr) to support with or as if with pillars

Synonym Usage

See column.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pillared
  adjective
• pillarlike
  adjective
• unpillared
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pillars
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pillar

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English piler(e), pileir, pillar(e) from Old French piler, pileir, piller, and Medieval Latin pīlāre, pīlārium, pīlārius, from Latin pīla pile ¹; see also -ar ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

If someone describes you as a pillar of strength, he's saying you're reliable and supportive, much like a pillar or column of a building that helps hold the structure up. The spelling of the word pillar looks like it has two pillars right at its center, holding the word up. Pillar is interchangeable with the word column, though you can't always use them in the same contexts. While a column and a pillar are both physical cylindrical structures, a column can also be the row running up and down on a chart, while a pillar is often someone or thing that is considered a foundation or support. Someone indispensable to your company might be considered a pillar to the organization.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pillar pillars

“E-commerce is stalling. That was the single largest growth pillar of airfreight,” said van de Wouw.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

The case has been closely watched on Wall Street, where investors have long treated Fed independence as a pillar of the bond market’s stability.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

One day in 2014, Flod’s young adult nephew, adept at climbing, helped him hoist the 4-foot, about 10-pound papier-mache sculpture atop the 70-foot pillar.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

"If I was Andy Burnham, I would not want to tie myself to that particular pillar that quickly," he said.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

I don’t dare look at him for fear of turning into a pillar of salt.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

The Chicago-born pontiff has made the defence of migrants one of the pillars of his papacy, like his predecessor, Francis, praising those who help the needy and decrying mass deportations in the United States.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

"Together, Jio and NSE represent the twin pillars of India's new economy," Azeez said.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

One of the site’s 36 pillars — the tallest one in the middle — could be a perch for a big, pink, screeching bird.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

With those pillars cemented, Pelinka’s job is delivering the A-list center Doncic reportedly desires.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

It’s got a white stone exterior with pillars and brass accents, and it’s so painfully classy, I almost feel underdressed.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Related Words

• pedestal