# breakwater

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbɹeɪkˌwɔːtə/ · frequency rank #44,096

## Definitions
1. A construction in or around a harbour designed to break the force of the sea and to provide shelter for vessels lying inside.
2. A low bulkhead across the forecastle deck of a ship which diverts water breaking over the bows into the scuppers.
3. A wooden or concrete barrier, usually perpendicular to the shore, intended to prevent the movement of sand along a coast.

## Etymology
From break + water. Compare Dutch breekwater (“breakwater”). Compare firebreak.

## Common misspellings (15)
`bbreakwater`, `berakwater`, `braekwater`, `breakawter`, `breakkwater`, `breakwaetr`, `breakwaterr`, `breakwatre`, `breakwatter`, `breakwtaer`, `breakwwater`, `breawkater`, `brekawater`, `brreakwater`, `rbeakwater`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/breakwater