A borehole, or borewell is a narrow shaft that is bored in the ground horizontally or vertically. It may be constructed for many purposes like extraction of ground water, gases like natural gas, or other liquids like petroleum or as a pilot hole during mineral exploitation, geotechnical assessment, investigation of environmental site etc.

In everyday lives, a borewell is used as a water well that is constructed by using a vertical pipe. A well-screen and casing is used to avoid caving.