sea wall

American  

noun

1. a strong wall or embankment to prevent the encroachments of the sea, serve as a breakwater, etc.

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sea wall British  

noun

1. a wall or embankment built to prevent encroachment or erosion by the sea or to serve as a breakwater

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Other Word Forms

• sea-walled adjective

Etymology

Origin of sea wall

before 1000; Middle English; Old English: cliff over the sea

Example Sentences

Bundy and the mayor led a driving tour of the shattered coastline, stopping at one property where the destruction of a home revealed a sea wall below with a pre-existing sinkhole.

From The Wall Street Journal

He pointed out the newly elevated sea wall, which provided both a scenic walking path and a bulwark against coastal flooding.

From The Wall Street Journal

With the smell of salt and seafood in the air, we stop at a place called Chez Guillaume, an oyster producer with a cozy outdoor restaurant that sits on the sea wall under a large awning.

From The Wall Street Journal

In bad weather, the waves would roll under the dining-room floor and thud loudly against the sea wall.

From Salon

He was nominated for a Tony award in 2020 for his performance in “Sea Wall/A Life.”

From Los Angeles Times