promontory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "promontory" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a high point of land or rock that juts out into a body of water, often used in geographical or literary contexts. Example: "The lighthouse stood proudly on the promontory, guiding ships safely through the treacherous waters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At Portavadie, a remote promontory at the mouth of Loch Fyne, a £45m glass-fronted marina and leisure development is being built by the Bulloch family, a Scottish whisky dynasty.

The Guardian - Travel

The promontory itself was acquired by the government in the 1970s as a site for building oil rigs.

The Guardian - Travel

Potter and Hunt, 29, crashed late on Saturday after leaping from a promontory called Taft Point, 3,000ft above the valley floor, park ranger Scott Gediman said.

The Guardian

Stranger still, when you reflect that Texas rivals California and Florida as a magnet for shipping.A promontory on Galveston Island offers a good feel of maritime Texas.

The Economist

They had dug a system of trenches and, on the promontory overlooking the river, had installed four Korean-made anti-aircraft guns pointing at the forest.

The Economist

Dr Kato's team has already tested the system successfully in the sea off Ofunato, in the east of the country, and a new system will be placed off Muroto promontory, in the west, early next year.Another line of research that holds promise is the analysis of a type of sound wave known as a T-phase wave.

The Economist

This Arabian promontory, with a population of about 600,000 people (only a quarter of them native Qataris), has the world's third-biggest proven gas reserves, after Russia and Iran.

The Economist

The old songs are rooted in local earth and feeling, and so, too, were his: not in England, properly speaking, but in Cornwall, that misty Celtic promontory running out into the Atlantic.

The Economist

Seized in 1297 by a Genoan adventurer, Francesco Grimaldi, the rocky promontory has been transformed by his descendants into a principality that flaunts the trappings of a modern nation-state: it has its own flag, passports and stamps, and seats at the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

The Economist

Sparrows Point, a promontory just outside Baltimore's city limits jutting into Chesapeake Bay, once housed the world's largest steel mill, which stretched for four miles and produced steel for ships, guns, ammunition and bridges, including the George Washington in New York and San Francisco's Golden Gate.

The Economist

It is Gibraltar, the rocky promontory ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing coastal geography, use "promontory" to specifically denote a high point of land extending into water, adding a touch of formality and precision to your description.

Common error

Avoid using "promontory" when a simpler term like "point" or "headland" would suffice. "Promontory" is best reserved for situations where its more formal and geographical connotation is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Promontory functions primarily as a noun, specifically referring to a geographical feature. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples showing it describing landforms projecting into bodies of water. The word can also sometimes refer to a projecting part of the body, though this usage is less common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

40%

News & Media

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "promontory" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun, primarily describing a high point of land extending into a body of water. Ludwig AI analysis, based on a variety of sources, identifies its usage as common in geographical, historical, and descriptive contexts. While "promontory" may be less common in everyday conversation, it adds formality and precision to writing. Alternative terms such as "headland" or "cape" can be used, depending on the desired level of formality and the specific nuances of the landscape being described. The primary sources for the term are encyclopedias and news outlets.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

headland

A more common and general term for a high, steep point of land extending into a body of water.

cape

Similar to a headland, but often refers to a larger landmass extending into the sea.

foreland

A piece of land jutting out into a sea or ocean.

point

A simple and widely understood term for a landform projecting into water.

head

A high point of land extending into a body of water.

bluff

Implies a steep cliff or high bank, often overlooking a river or sea.

spur

Suggests a ridge or projection extending from a larger mountain or highland.

cliff

A steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea.

projection

A general term referring to something that extends outward.

ridge

A long, narrow elevated crest of land.

FAQs

How is "promontory" typically used in a sentence?

The term "promontory" is generally used to describe a high point of land that extends into a body of water. For example, "The lighthouse stood atop the rocky promontory, guiding ships safely to shore."

What words can I use instead of "promontory"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "headland", "cape", or "point" as alternatives to "promontory".

Is "promontory" a formal word?

Yes, "promontory" is generally considered a formal term, often used in geographical or literary contexts. Simpler terms like "point" or "headland" might be more appropriate for informal settings.

What distinguishes "promontory" from a peninsula?

While both are landforms extending into water, a "promontory" is typically a high point or cliff, whereas a peninsula is a larger landmass connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land.