bastion
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 5The 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.
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.
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.
Antonyms
Word Family
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
The local library remains a bastion of community spirit in the digital age.
everydayThe neighborhood library is still a strong protector of local community feelings even now.
The university has long been considered a bastion of academic freedom and rigorous debate.
formalThe college has been seen for a long time as a primary defender of the right to study and discuss freely.
My grandfather's workshop is the last bastion of peace in this noisy house.
informalMy grandpa's workroom is the only place left where it is actually quiet in this loud home.
Sociologists often analyze the private club as a bastion of inherited privilege.
academicSocial scientists study the private club because it acts as a place that preserves advantages passed down through families.
Despite the market shift, the company is determined to remain a bastion of manufacturing quality.
businessEven though the market is changing, the firm wants to keep being a leader in high-quality production.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
A battalion is a large military unit of several hundred soldiers, whereas a bastion is a defensive structure or a metaphorical protector.
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.
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
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 Vocabulary
Related Words
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