Embankment: meaning, definitions and examples

Used for general structures built to hold back water or support roads and railways, often found in both urban and rural settings.

• The road was elevated on an embankment to prevent flooding
• The river embankment was reinforced to protect the town from rising waters

Commonly used in regions with low elevation to describe barriers that prevent the sea or rivers from flooding the land; often found in coastal areas.

• Residents built a dike to keep the sea from inundating their homes
• The dike held strong during the heavy storm

Primarily used in American English to describe an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river, especially in areas prone to flooding.

• The levee broke during the hurricane, causing widespread flooding
• Engineers worked tirelessly to strengthen the levee along the Mississippi River

Refers to the land alongside a river or lake; can also denote financial institutions in a different context.

• We had a picnic on the river bank
• The steep banks of the lake were covered in lush greenery