Illustration of ridgepole
- 1 ridgepole 1
- 2 rafters
1
: the highest horizontal timber in a roof against which the upper ends of the rafters are fixed
2
: the horizontal pole at the top of a tent
Examples of ridgepole in a Sentence
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Erect a ridgepole between trees and tilt branches against one side to make a lean-to framework.
—
Keith McCafferty/field & Stream,
Popular Science,
26 Jan. 2021
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Keith McCafferty/field & Stream,
Popular Science,
26 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Ridgepole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ridgepole. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ridgepole
noun
ridge·pole
ˈrij-ˌpōl 
1
: the highest horizontal timber in a sloping roof to which the upper ends of the rafters are fastened
2
: the horizontal pole at the top of a tent
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