escarpment

noun

es·​carp·​ment i-ˈskärp-mənt 

1

: a steep slope in front of a fortification

2

: a long cliff or steep slope separating two comparatively level or more gently sloping surfaces and resulting from erosion or faulting

Synonyms

• cliff
• crag
• palisade
• bluff

Examples of escarpment in a Sentence

the castle sits atop an escarpment that for hundreds of years made it virtually invulnerable to attack

Recent Examples on the Web

The escarpment—a sheer sandstone ridge that rises abruptly from the plains—stretches for miles, its ledges dotted with Tellem dwellings—eerily perched and unreachable—while Dogon homes cluster below. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025

The main issue was accessibility, or lack thereof, thanks to the combination of rugged mountains and a massive escarpment that cut the place off from the world. —Ned Zeman, Outside, 14 Nov. 2021

Mara pairs epic views from its location on an escarpment with a strong conservation ethos and deep community ties. —Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 4 Aug. 2025

The escarpment is a line of cliffs and steep hills created by a geologic fault, Sharif said. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 6 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French escarpement, from escarper to scarp, from Middle French, from escarpe scarp, from Old Italian scarpa — more at scarp

First Known Use

circa 1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

escarpment

noun

es·​carp·​ment is-ˈkärp-mənt 

1

: a steep slope in front of a fort or defensive area

2

: a long cliff