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

See Examples For:

sea wall

This winter has also seen a section of sea wall collapse due to the onslaught of storms causing some disruption.

From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2026

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 ● Jan. 6, 2026

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 ● Jan. 2, 2026

Last December, eight people in Ventura sustained moderate injuries after being struck by a massive rogue wave that swept over a sea wall and flooded area streets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2024

I’ll never forget that tall, lonely figure standing on the sea wall The S.S.

From "The Cay" by Theodore Taylor