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 of fortress

• 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

Putin’s fortress strategy A world of raw power politics suits Putin. —Anna Nemtsova, Time, 23 May 2026

Located in County Louth on the southern shores of Carlingford Lough, the fortress is a short walk from the village of the same name, a walled town known for its medieval buildings. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026

The Howes might turn New York and the lower Hudson into a fortress that blocked New England from the middle colonies. —Nick Bunker, Washington Post, 22 May 2026

Or does each of us possess an everlasting soul, hidden away in some vast fortress of memory? —Alex James Kane, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

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