bollard

noun

bol·​lard ˈbä-lərd How to pronounce bollard (audio)
British also ˈbä-ˌläd
1
: a post of metal or wood on a wharf around which to fasten mooring lines
2
3
chiefly British : any of a series of short posts set at intervals to delimit an area (such as a traffic island) or to exclude vehicles

Examples of bollard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Aiello believes the bollard fence planned for the area will be just as bad as wire over time. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 Tourists sit on a bollard at the Sydney Opera House. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 June 2026 New bollards have been installed outside the church to protect the building if another vehicle veers off the road. Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 21 May 2026 Each fence, bollard, and inch of blast-resistant laminated glass is a barrier between the people and their government. Neil Flanagan, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for bollard

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from bole

First Known Use

circa 1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bollard was circa 1763

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Cite this Entry

“Bollard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bollard. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a post of metal or wood on a wharf around which to fasten mooring lines

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