boulevard

noun

bou·​le·​vard ˈbu̇-lə-ˌvärd How to pronounce boulevard (audio)
ˈbü-
also ˈbə-
Synonyms of boulevardnext
: a broad often landscaped thoroughfare

Synonyms of boulevard

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Examples of boulevard in a Sentence

the city is celebrated for its broad, tree-lined boulevards
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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.
The family arrived in style in the royal family’s Rolls-Royce to observe the annual military parade in Madrid from the grandstand on Paseo del Prado boulevard. — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026 The centerpiece boulevard has become blighted by empty lots and vacant buildings. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 More than a century later, Ben Ali was honored along the boulevard in the neighborhood that bore the old rancho’s name. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Visitors often still liken the city’s walkable streets and historic architecture to European boulevards. — Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boulevard

Word History

Etymology

French, modification of Middle Dutch bolwerc bulwark

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boulevard was in 1763

Rhymes for boulevard

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Browse Nearby Words

bouleuterion
boulevard
boulevardier
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Cite this Entry

“Boulevard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boulevard. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

boulevard

noun
bou·​le·​vard ˈbu̇l-ə-ˌvärd How to pronounce boulevard (audio)
ˈbül-
: a wide avenue often having grass strips with trees along its center or sides
Etymology

from French boulevard "walkway lined with trees," derived from early Dutch bolwerc "bulwark, rampart"; so called because the earliest boulevards were at sites of razed fortifications — related to bulwark

More from Merriam-Webster on boulevard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boulevard

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