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.
Workers this week were seen installing safety bollards, protective road posts, hidden beneath flower boxes along the edge of the sidewalk in front of Apple Store, 277 Nichols Road. Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026 The sheriffs said Scott reiterated CBP was still not building a steel bollard wall in the park but said vehicle barriers may remain part of the plan in certain locations. Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026 There certainly may be a kernel of truth to Musk’s professed safety concerns, but plowing through bollards that are explitly designed to protect pedestrians from rogue drivers isn’t helping his case. Frank Landymore, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026 Other locations will receive vehicle bollards that will let wildlife pass through unimpeded, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 11 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

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

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