fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs 

: a fortified place : stronghold

especially : a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town

fortresslike

ˈfȯr-trəs-līk 

adjective

Synonyms

• stronghold
• citadel
• fortification
• castle
• bastion
• fort

Examples of fortress in a Sentence

the boys built a snow fortress and then challenged the neighborhood kids to an in-your-face snowball fight

Recent Examples on the Web

The concept of the Stadium of Light as a fortress will be placed under severe strain before 2025 is over, with Arsenal, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester City visiting in the next two months. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025

Vilgefortz, true to form, begins by leading a squadron that blasts magic so aggressively at the fortress that some of them crumble into bones on the spot. —Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025

Europe’s new fortress is not built on solid economic or social foundations. —Jonathan Portes, Time, 29 Oct. 2025

The fortress was found at the Tell El-Kharouba archaeological site in Sheikh Zuweid, a Bedouin town in North Sinai. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English forteresse, from Anglo-French fortelesce, forteresse, from Medieval Latin fortalitia, from Latin fortis strong

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs 

: a fortified place