Column vs. Pillar: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A column is a structural element, often cylindrical, supporting a building, while a pillar is a broader term for any vertical support, often symbolic or decorative.
Key Differences
A column typically refers to a cylindrical support structure in architecture, essential for supporting buildings. In contrast, a pillar can refer to any vertical support structure, which may be structural or decorative.
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Dec 25, 2023
Columns are often characterized by their classical design elements, such as Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian styles. Pillars, while they can share these styles, are more varied in design and may serve as standalone monuments.
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Dec 25, 2023
In modern architecture, columns are integral to the structure, usually made of concrete, steel, or stone. Pillars, however, can be constructed from a variety of materials and may not always bear load.
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Dec 25, 2023
Columns are typically uniform in shape and size within a particular building or structure. Pillars can vary significantly in size and shape, even within the same context, and often carry symbolic or historical significance.
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Dec 25, 2023
The use of columns is primarily functional, playing a key role in building support. Pillars, while they can be functional, often play a larger role in aesthetics or as a symbolic representation in architecture or sculpture.
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Dec 25, 2023
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Comparison Chart
XPrimary Function
Structural support for buildings.
Vertical support, often symbolic.
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Design Elements
Classical styles (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian).
More varied, can be decorative.
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Uniformity
Typically uniform in a structure.
Can vary greatly in size and shape.
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Symbolic Significance
Mostly functional.
Often carries symbolic or historic value.
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Column and Pillar Definitions
Column
A vertical cylindrical support in a building.
The ancient temple was supported by large stone columns.
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Dec 25, 2023
Pillar
A tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal, used as a monument.
The memorial was marked with a solemn stone pillar.
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Dec 25, 2023
Column
A vertical section in a table or spreadsheet.
Enter the data in the first column of the spreadsheet.
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Pillar
A vertical support structure in architecture.
The grand entrance was flanked by two marble pillars.
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Column
A recurring article or feature in a newspaper or magazine.
She writes a weekly health column for the local newspaper.
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Pillar
A person or thing regarded as reliably providing essential support.
She is considered a pillar of the community.
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Column
A formation of troops marching or standing in lines.
The soldiers moved in a column down the street during the parade.
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Pillar
A fundamental principle or policy.
Trust is a pillar of any successful relationship.
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Column
A vertical structure usually consisting of a base, a cylindrical shaft, and a capital, used as a support or standing alone as a monument.
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Oct 19, 2023
Column
Something resembling an architectural column in form or function
A column of mercury in a thermometer.
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Pillar
One who occupies a central or responsible position
A pillar of the state.
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Column
One of two or more vertical sections of text lying side by side in a document and separated by a rule or a blank space.
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Column
A feature article that appears regularly in a publication, such as a newspaper.
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Column
A formation, as of troops or vehicles, in which all elements follow one behind the other.
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Pillar
(figuratively) An essential part of something that provides support.
He's a pillar of the community.
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Column
(Botany)A columnlike structure, especially one formed by the union of a stamen and the style in an orchid flower, or one formed by the united staminal filaments in flowers such as those of the hibiscus or mallow.
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Pillar
(Roman Catholic) A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church.
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Column
(Anatomy)Any of various tubular or pillarlike supporting structures in the body, each generally having a single tissue origin and function
The vertebral column.
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Pillar
The centre of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns.
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Column
(architecture) A solid upright structure designed usually to support a larger structure above it, such as a roof or horizontal beam, but sometimes for decoration.
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Pillar
(bodybuilding) The body from the hips over the core to the shoulders.
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Column
A vertical line of entries in a table, usually read from top to bottom.
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Pillar
The general and popular term for a firm, upright, insulated support for a superstructure; a pier, column, or post; also, a column or shaft not supporting a superstructure, as one erected for a monument or an ornament.
Jacob set a pillar upon her grave.
The place . . . vast and proud,Supported by a hundred pillars stood.
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Column
A body of text meant to be read line by line, especially in printed material that has multiple adjacent such on a single page.
It was too hard to read the text across the whole page, so I split it into two columns.
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Pillar
Figuratively, that which resembles such a pillar in appearance, character, or office; a supporter or mainstay; as, the Pillars of Hercules; a pillar of the state.
By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire.
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Column
A unit of width, especially of advertisements, in a periodical, equivalent to the width of a usual column of text.
Each column inch costs $300 a week; this ad is four columns by three inches, so will run $3600 a week.
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Pillar
A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church.
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Column
(by extension) A recurring feature in a periodical, especially an opinion piece, especially by a single author or small rotating group of authors, or on a single theme.
His initial foray into print media was as the author of a weekly column in his elementary-school newspaper.
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Pillar
The center of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns.
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Column
Something having similar vertical form or structure to the things mentioned above, such as a spinal column.
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Pillar
Having a support in the form of a pillar, instead of legs; as, a pillar drill.
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Pillar
A fundamental principle or practice;
Science eroded the pillars of superstition
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Column
(chemistry) An object used to separate the different components of a liquid or to purify chemical compounds.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pillar
Anything tall and thin approximating the shape of a column or tower;
The test tube held a column of white powder
A tower of dust rose above the horizon
A thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsite
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Oct 19, 2023
Column
A kind of pillar; a cylindrical or polygonal support for a roof, ceiling, statue, etc., somewhat ornamented, and usually composed of base, shaft, and capital. See Order.
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Column
Anything resembling, in form or position, a column in architecture; an upright body or mass; a shaft or obelisk; as, a column of air, of water, of mercury, etc.; the Column Vendôme; the spinal column.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pillar
A vertical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (as a monument or a column of air)
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Column
A body of troops formed in ranks, one behind the other; - contradistinguished from line. Compare Ploy, and Deploy.
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Pillar
(architeture) a tall cylindrical vertical upright and used to support a structure
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Column
A number of ships so arranged as to follow one another in single or double file or in squadrons; - in distinction from "line", where they are side by side.
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Pillar
A vertical cylinder used in machinery or construction.
The hydraulic press was equipped with strong steel pillars for support.
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Dec 25, 2023
Column
A perpendicular set of lines, not extending across the page, and separated from other matter by a rule or blank space; as, a column in a newspaper.
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Column
The body formed by the union of the stamens in the Mallow family, or of the stamens and pistil in the orchids.
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Column
One of a series of articles written in a periodical, usually under the same title and at regular intervals; it may be written and signed by one or more authors, or may appear pseudonymously or anonymously, as an editorial column.
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Column
A vertical glass tube used in column chromatography; a mixture is poured in the top and washed through a stationary substance where components of the mixture are adsorbed selectively to form colored bands
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Column
Anything tall and thin approximating the shape of a column or tower;
The test tube held a column of white powder
A tower of dust rose above the horizon
A thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsite
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Oct 19, 2023
Column
A vertical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (as a monument or a column of air)
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Oct 19, 2023
Column
(architeture) a tall cylindrical vertical upright and used to support a structure
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Column
A vertical tube in chromatography for separation.
The mixture was passed through a column for chemical analysis.
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Dec 25, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is a column in architecture?
A vertical cylindrical structure supporting a building.
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Dec 25, 2023
Are columns always round?
Typically, but there are square or polygonal columns too.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can a pillar be part of machinery?
Yes, in some machinery, pillars are used for support.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can a pillar be a monument?
Yes, pillars are often used as monuments or memorials.
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Dec 25, 2023
Are columns used in interior design?
Yes, they can be both structural and decorative indoors.
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Dec 25, 2023
Do columns always support weight?
Typically, columns are designed to bear loads.
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What is a pillar?
A vertical support element, which can be structural or decorative.
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Dec 25, 2023
Are pillars found in modern architecture?
Yes, both in structural and aesthetic roles.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is a column in a newspaper?
A recurring section or article in a publication.
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Are there different shapes of columns?
Yes, columns can be cylindrical, square, or polygonal.
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Dec 25, 2023
Do pillars have to be vertical?
Typically, but there are artistic variations.
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Do columns have a symbolic meaning?
Generally, they are more functional than symbolic.
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Dec 25, 2023
Do pillars vary in design?
Yes, they can have diverse designs, from simple to ornate.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can a column be a memorial?
It's less common, as pillars are usually preferred for memorials.
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What are the classical column styles?
Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian are classic styles.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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