fortification

noun

for·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌfȯr-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: an act or process of fortifying

2

: something that fortifies, defends, or strengthens

especially : works erected to defend a place or position

Did you know?

In the Middle Ages, many European cities were entirely enclosed by sturdy walls, with walkways along the top and towers at intervals, designed to make an invasion impossible. A water-filled ditch, or moat, might run alongside the wall for added defense. Such defenses turned the entire city into a fort, or fortress. Over the centuries, fortifications changed steadily with the development of new weaponry. In World War II, the German fortification of the French coast included antitank barriers, bunkers, minefields, and underwater obstacles, but it wasn't enough to turn back the immense force of the Allied invasion on D-day.

Synonyms

• bastion
• castle
• citadel
• fastness
• fort
• fortress
• hold
• redoubt
• stronghold

Examples of fortification in a Sentence

They began the fortification and reconstruction of the city.

defenders at the border fortifications preparing for an attack

Recent Examples on the Web

Such financial fortification provides the resilience needed to cover essential expenses, seize opportunities and outlast a downturn. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Ancient military fortifications dating back to the Ptolemaic and Roman eras of Egyptian history were recently uncovered by archaeologists. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025

If the negotiations fail to reach agreement that could make an attack more likely, but still extremely difficult to carry out succesfully given the distribution and heavy fortification of Iran's nuclear sites. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Soldiers building fortifications in southern Ukraine unearthed a burial site more than 2,600 years old. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fortification

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

fortification

noun

for·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌfȯrt-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act of fortifying

2

: a construction built for defense