promontory

noun

prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈprä-mən-ˌtȯr-ē 

plural promontories

1

a

: a high point of land or rock projecting into a body of water

b

: a prominent mass of land overlooking or projecting into a lowland

2

: a bodily prominence

Synonyms

• headland
• ness
• point

Examples of promontory in a Sentence

stood on the windswept promontory overlooking the bay

Cape May is Delaware Bay's largest promontory.

Recent Examples on the Web

Head around the promontory of Swami’s Point, which was named after Paramahansa Yogananda of the Self-Realization Fellowship (George Harrison was a fan). —Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024

The white building gleams like a promontory of power, with trees from across the U.S. spread across the grounds below. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2024

Trinidad State Beach This beach runs along the western shore of this picturesque oceanside village, starting just north of Trinidad Head, a rocky promontory that shelters Trinidad Harbor and offers 360-degree coastal views along a 1.3-mile trail loop. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 July 2024

Agate Beach, Sue-meg State Park This long, narrow beach stretches north from the dramatic, lushly forested promontory that makes up Sue-meg State Park, north of Trinidad. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 1 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin promunturium, promonturium; probably akin to prominēre to jut forth — more at prominent

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

promontory

noun

prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈpräm-ən-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

plural promontories

: a high point of land sticking out into the sea

Medical Definition

promontory

noun

prom·​on·​to·​ry ˈpräm-ən-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- 

plural promontories

: a bodily prominence: as

a

: the angle of the ventral side of the sacrum where it joins the vertebra

b

: a prominence on the inner wall of the tympanum of the ear