C1 adjective Formal

bastion

/ˈbæstiən/

A bastion is a person, place, or institution that strongly defends or upholds particular principles, attitudes, or traditions. It originally referred to a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to allow defensive fire in several directions.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The local library remains a bastion of community spirit in the digital age.

The neighborhood library is still a strong protector of local community feelings even now.

2

The university has long been considered a bastion of academic freedom and rigorous debate.

The college has been seen for a long time as a primary defender of the right to study and discuss freely.

3

My grandfather's workshop is the last bastion of peace in this noisy house.

My grandpa's workroom is the only place left where it is actually quiet in this loud home.

Word Family

Noun
bastion
Adjective
bastioned
Related
fortification
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Memory Tip

Think of a 'Base' that 'Stays on'—a bastion is a base of support that stays strong against outside pressure.

Quick Quiz

The small independent bookstore is seen by many as the last ______ of literary culture in the city.

Correct!

The correct answer is: bastion

Examples

1

The local library remains a bastion of community spirit in the digital age.

everyday

The neighborhood library is still a strong protector of local community feelings even now.

2

The university has long been considered a bastion of academic freedom and rigorous debate.

formal

The college has been seen for a long time as a primary defender of the right to study and discuss freely.

3

My grandfather's workshop is the last bastion of peace in this noisy house.

informal

My grandpa's workroom is the only place left where it is actually quiet in this loud home.

4

Sociologists often analyze the private club as a bastion of inherited privilege.

academic

Social scientists study the private club because it acts as a place that preserves advantages passed down through families.

5

Despite the market shift, the company is determined to remain a bastion of manufacturing quality.

business

Even though the market is changing, the firm wants to keep being a leader in high-quality production.

Word Family

Noun
bastion
Adjective
bastioned
Related
fortification

Common Collocations

last bastion the final place where a tradition or way of life still exists
bastion of tradition an institution that preserves old customs
bastion of democracy a country or institution that strongly protects democratic values
bastion of hope a person or thing that provides a strong sense of optimism
liberal bastion a place known for strongly upholding progressive or liberal views

Common Phrases

the last bastion

the final remaining example or defender of something

a bastion of stability

something that remains steady and reliable during chaotic times

a bastion of free speech

an institution dedicated to protecting the right to express opinions

Often Confused With

bastion vs battalion

A battalion is a large military unit of several hundred soldiers, whereas a bastion is a defensive structure or a metaphorical protector.

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Usage Notes

Use 'bastion' primarily in a figurative sense to describe institutions or people that resist change or protect a specific ideology. It carries a connotation of strength and sometimes stubbornness.

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Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'bastion' to mean any large building; however, it specifically implies a role of defense or preservation of an idea.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'Base' that 'Stays on'—a bastion is a base of support that stays strong against outside pressure.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Italian word 'bastione', meaning a large fortification, from 'bastire' which means to build.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun Usually followed by the preposition 'of' Often modified by adjectives like 'last', 'final', or 'staunch'
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Cultural Context

In Western political discourse, 'bastion' is frequently used to describe prestigious institutions like universities or the press as defenders of societal values.

Quick Quiz

The small independent bookstore is seen by many as the last ______ of literary culture in the city.

Correct!

The correct answer is: bastion

Related Words

overcredant

C1

To accord excessive belief or trust to a statement, theory, or individual without sufficient verification. It describes the act of being overly ready to accept something as true, often disregarding critical analysis or conflicting evidence.

overmercery

C1

Relating to an excessive or obsessive focus on trade, commerce, and the buying or selling of goods. It describes a mindset where mercantile interests and the pursuit of commercial profit override social, ethical, or aesthetic considerations.

multihabacy

C1

To maintain a presence or existence across multiple habitats, environments, or distinct social spheres simultaneously. It describes the active process of adapting to and functioning within diverse physical or conceptual spaces.

foretheist

C1

To prefigure or establish a theological framework or belief in a deity before a main religious system becomes dominant. It is often used in academic contexts to describe the historical anticipation of a specific religious shift.

hyperultimness

C1

To reach or push a process, system, or state to its absolute final and most extreme limit of completion or perfection. It involves the deliberate act of maximizing every possible variable to achieve a definitive, ultimate result.

adnegation

C1

Adnegation is a formal term referring to the act of denial or refusal. It is most commonly used in legal, philosophical, or highly formal contexts to describe the rejection of a claim, request, or proposition.

synannous

C1

A botanical term used as a noun to refer to a plant species or specimen in which the leaves and flowers appear at the same time. It describes a specific phenological state where the vegetative and reproductive stages of a plant's annual cycle overlap perfectly.

unsumcide

C1

To intentionally dismantle a summary or total conclusion, often by breaking a consolidated result back down into its original disparate parts. It is typically used in analytical contexts to describe the invalidation or reversal of an aggregated data set.

innascible

C1

Describing something that cannot be born or has no beginning or origin. It is a highly specialized term used primarily in theology and philosophy to refer to uncreated or eternal beings.

nonanthropancy

C1

The state or quality of being non-human or the absence of human involvement, characteristics, and perspectives. It refers to entities, systems, or environments that exist or operate independently of human influence or anthropocentric values.

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