fortitude
noun
Did you know?
Fortitude comes from the Latin word fortis, meaning “strong,” and in English it has always been used primarily to describe strength of mind. For a time, the word was also used to mean “physical strength”; William Shakespeare used it that way in Henry VI, Part 1: “Coward of France! How much he wrongs his fame / Despairing of his own arm’s fortitude.” But despite use by the famous bard, that meaning languished and is now considered obsolete. Even the familiar phrase “intestinal fortitude” is just a humorous way to refer to someone’s courage or mental stamina, not the literal strength of their digestive system. (If you’re looking to describe a mighty gastrointestinal tract, we might suggest “iron stomach.”)
Examples of fortitude in a Sentence
Nicholas Fox Weber, The Clarks Of Cooperstown, 2007
But now Frum, by having the fortitude to revisit that bizarre era, has half-persuaded me that the '70s, a partial negation of the '60s, in one way, were a partial confirmation of them in another.
—Christopher Hitchens, Civilization, April/May 2000
He learned that war was a hurly-burly of violence in which men prevailed through imagination and the fortitude to struggle on despite reverses.
—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
She has endured disappointments with fortitude and patience.
it was only with the greatest fortitude that the Pilgrims were able to survive their first winter in Plymouth
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The gift from Elsa's Comanche husband Sam (Martin Sensmeier) has emerged as a symbol of Dutton fortitude and resilience.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
More important, his Turner Broadcasting System had the financial fortitude to keep CNN on the air, against all odds and in the face of huge losses in its early years.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 May 2026
With that said, the Pistons would bring a level of physicality and mental fortitude the Knicks haven’t seen all postseason from an opponent.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fortitude
Cite this Entry
“Fortitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortitude. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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fortitude
noun
