Meaning & use
center pillar
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
the strong vertical post between the front and rear side windows of a car, supporting the roof.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a center pillar' or 'center pillars'. Often written as two words, but 'center-pillar' works as an adjective before a noun.
Patterns
- a center pillar of a car
- the center pillar
The seatbelt is attached to the center pillar of the car.
A dent in the center pillar can weaken the roof in a rollover.
The mechanic checked the center pillar for rust after the accident.
Word forms
| plural | center pillars |
|---|
Common combinations
- center pillar trim
- The center pillar trim was loose, so it rattled when driving.
- center pillar airbag
- Newer cars may have a center pillar airbag to protect rear passengers.
- damage to the center pillar
- The insurance company wrote off the car because of damage to the center pillar.
Synonyms and how they differ
- B-pillar
- The technical term used in the automotive industry; 'center pillar' is the everyday word.
- post
- A more general word for any upright support; 'center pillar' is more specific to cars.
Word family
- pillar noun
- A tall vertical structure that supports something, or a basic part of a system.
Commonly confused: center pillar or center console?
center pillar vs center console
The center console is the part between the front seats, not the post beside the windows.
Practice
Which part of a car is the center pillar?
Choose one answer.
The center pillar is the vertical post between the front and rear side windows, supporting the roof. The bar between the front seats is the center console, and the frame around the windshield is the A-pillar.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “center pillar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.