west point
west point Lexical Profile
• noun
American The United States Military Academy, a prestigious four-year federal service academy located in Orange County, New York, responsible for educating and training cadets for commissioning into the United States Army.
"After a rigorous selection process and a congressional nomination, she received a coveted appointment to study at West Point."
American A census-designated place and federal military reservation in Orange County, New York, situated on the western bank of the Hudson River.
"During the American Revolution, George Washington considered the highland fortifications at West Point to be of critical strategic importance to the colonies."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, 'West Point' is overwhelmingly used as a metonym for the United States Military Academy itself, rather than simply referring to the geographic hamlet in New York.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its geographical position as a prominent point of land projecting into the western side of the Hudson River, a site strategically fortified by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.