1
: a projecting part of a fortification
a bastion at each of the fort's five corners
2
: a fortified area or position
bombing island bastions
3
: stronghold sense 2
the last bastion of academic standards—
Amer. Scientist
Amer. Scientist
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Bastion is related to bastille (a word now used as a general term for a prison, but probably best known as the name of the Parisian fortress-turned-prison stormed by an angry mob at the start of the French Revolution). It comes from the Italian verb bastire, which means "to build."
Examples of bastion in a Sentence
the rebel army retreated to its bastion in the mountains to regroup
Recent Examples on the Web
When every day brings some new, head-spinning event on the world stage, when polarization seems to define our national discourse, now is a good time to stop and give thanks for the bastion of solace in the heart of New York City — Central Park.
—Betsy Smith, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
Associated Press journalists saw a handful of tanks move Sunday into Jenin, long a bastion of armed struggle against Israel.
—Majdi Mohammed and Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Even countries in the Gulf, long considered a bastion of stability, are facing internal challenges.
—Marwan Muasher, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
New York University has a long history as a liberal bastion.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
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Betsy Smith, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
Associated Press journalists saw a handful of tanks move Sunday into Jenin, long a bastion of armed struggle against Israel.
—Majdi Mohammed and Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2025
Even countries in the Gulf, long considered a bastion of stability, are facing internal challenges.
—Marwan Muasher, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
New York University has a long history as a liberal bastion.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bastion
Cite this Entry
“Bastion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bastion. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bastion
noun
bas·tion
ˈbas-chən 
: some place or something that gives protection against attack
a bastion of democracy
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