retaining wall

American  

noun

1. a wall for holding in place a mass of earth or the like, as at the edge of a terrace or excavation.

---

retaining wall British  

noun

1. Also called: revetment.  a wall constructed to hold back earth, loose rock, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of retaining wall

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

According to local officials, the Rodalies train collided with a retaining wall which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní on Tuesday evening.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

They ran, some barefoot in the mud, up a steep hill beyond the property’s retaining wall.

From Salon • Jul. 17, 2025

In Cradley Heath, Dunedin said the process of connecting street lights had been affected by one of them being "directly in front of the retaining wall that has failed" during the landslip.

From BBC • May 7, 2025

As she walked Caleb to school, less than a mile from their Lincoln Heights home, Massa noticed this long strip of neglected land between the freeway’s retaining wall and the sidewalk.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025

Witnesses say the car, driven by Andrew Jackson, 17, also of the Hazelwood team, had been noticeably weaving across the lanes of the expressway just before it hit a retaining wall and burst into flames.

From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper