breakwater

noun

break·​wa·​ter ˈbrāk-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce breakwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
Synonyms of breakwaternext
: an offshore structure (such as a wall) protecting a harbor or beach from the force of waves

Examples of breakwater 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.
When it was constructed, the breakwater was built far enough east to protect the shore from waves coming from the west, but left a gap that allowed waves coming from the south to hit a narrow stretch of Long Beach‘s Alamitos Peninsula. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Lifeguards from the department swam to the breakwater, rescued Dubray and brought her aboard a fire boat. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026 He was pulled from the lake’s cold water near the Government Pier breakwater in the main channel of Waukegan Harbor by rescue divers. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 SpaceX intends to partner with state and federal agencies to expand Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan, including Gulf shoreline protection breakwaters to slow erosion. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for breakwater

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breakwater was in 1827

Rhymes for breakwater

See All Rhymes for breakwater

Browse Nearby Words

break/violate the law
breakwater
break wind
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breakwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakwater. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

breakwater

noun
break·​wa·​ter ˈbrāk-ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce breakwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: an offshore structure (as a wall) to protect a harbor or beach from the force of waves

More from Merriam-Webster on breakwater

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about breakwater

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