What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Embankment vs Backfill - What's the difference?

embankment | backfill |

As nouns the difference between backfill and embankment

is that backfill is the material that has been used to refill an excavation while embankment is a long artificial mound of earth and stone, built to hold back water, for protection or to support a road.

As a verb backfill

is to refill a hole with the material dug out of it.

embankment

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • a long artificial mound of earth and stone, built to hold back water, for protection or to support a road

    • Related terms

    * Victoria Embankment

    backfill

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To refill a hole with the material dug out of it.
  • (archaeology) To refill an excavation unit to restore the former ground surface and or to preserve the unit and make it recognizable as having been excavated.
  • * We backfilled the cistern with pea gravel to discourage its use as a refuse container.
  • (US) To provide reserve support.
  • (US) To replenish or restock due to attrition or loss.
    • The company backfilled Joe's position after he was terminated.

    Noun

  • The material that has been used to refill an excavation.
  • (US) Reserve support personnel.
  • (US) That which backfills; a replacement.
  • (literature) Material in a story set earlier in the past, providing history or context for the current action.