What is a wall designed to resist lateral forces typically caused by wind and seismic loads called?

A wall designed to resist lateral forces typically caused by wind and seismic loads is known as a shear wall. Shear walls are critical components in building design as they provide the necessary stiffness and strength to counteract the horizontal forces that can occur during events such as high winds or earthquakes.

The design of a shear wall usually involves using reinforced concrete or masonry, allowing it to distribute these lateral loads. The effectiveness of shear walls lies not only in their material strength but also in their configurational placement within a structure, which helps ensure stability and integrity.

In contrast, load-bearing walls support vertical loads from the structure above but are not primarily designed to handle lateral forces. Retaining walls are used to hold back soil and manage elevation changes but are not focused on lateral load resistance from wind or seismic activities. Composite walls are made from different materials for various functions but do not specifically refer to walls built to resist lateral forces. Thus, shear walls are the appropriate answer for this question.