noun

parapet

/ˈpærəpɪt/ · say it: PAR·uh·pit

a low protective wall at the edge of a roof or bridge

In Architecture & Design

In more detail

1. (noun) a low wall at the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony that prevents people from falling off

2. (noun) a wall built along the top of a fortification to protect soldiers from enemy fire

Examples

1. The building's parapet provides safety for workers on the roof.
2. Medieval soldiers stood behind the castle's parapet to defend against attackers.

How to use parapet

Parapet is used in two main contexts: architectural, where it refers to the safety wall atop roofs and bridges, and military/historical, where it describes protective walls on fortifications. The term is formal and often appears in technical, architectural, or historical writing rather than everyday speech.

Common phrases

along the parapet
over the parapet
parapet wall
fortified parapet
roof parapet

Synonyms

battlement · rampart · fortification · breastwork · barrier

Word family

parapeted (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse parapet with battlement; while a parapet is the wall itself, a battlement is the notched defensive structure that may sit atop a parapet.

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