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Definition of bivouac

bivouac

/ˈbɪv.wæk/
biv · ou · ac
Plural:bivouacs
•
Past Simple:bivouacked
•
Past Participle:bivouacked
•
Present Participle:bivouacking
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bivouac Lexical Profile

bivouac Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A temporary camp without tents or permanent cover, used especially by mountaineers, hikers, or soldiers.

Example

"The mountaineers set up a hasty bivouac on a narrow rocky ledge before nightfall."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To stay or camp in a temporary shelter or in the open air without tents.

Example

"Caught by an unexpected snowstorm, the climbers had to bivouac just below the summit."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

When conjugated as a verb, a 'k' is inserted before vowel suffixes to preserve the hard /k/ sound, yielding 'bivouacked' and 'bivouacking'.

• Nearby Words

bitty
bitumen
bivalve
bivouac
biweekly
biyearly
biz

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 18th century from French 'bivouac', which came from Swiss German 'Beiwacht' (literally 'supplementary night watch'), formed from 'bei-' (by, near) and 'Wacht' (watch or guard).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bivouac. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bivouac
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