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

Holding their accounts on freeze like a fortress are smarmy bank managers who laugh in the face of Beirut citizens who attempt a demand on their own funds. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026

Most of them can’t afford to outfit their own individual townhouses like armed fortresses as Swift has. — Bridget Read, Curbed, 1 Sep. 2026

The terrain is a natural fortress, and bombing is of limited effectiveness. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

There is a micronation on a fortress at sea off the coast of Great Britain, and the British government once considered blowing it up. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 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