fort

noun

ˈfȯrt 

1

: a strong or fortified place

especially : a fortified place occupied only by troops and surrounded with such works as a ditch, rampart, and parapet : fortification

2

: a permanent army post

—often used in place names

Synonyms of fort

• fortress
• stronghold
• fortification
• citadel
• castle
• bastion

Examples of fort in a Sentence

They captured the fort after a long battle.

a series of forts along the frontier

Recent Examples on the Web

The steady flow of packages into our New York and London beauty closets alone could create a cardboard box fort or two. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 29 Dec. 2025

Meanwhile, David Lee’s hard-working mother, Rebecca (Cicely Tyson), tries to hold down the fort at home and survive without her husband. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025

From ancient forts and settlements to Roman roads, some of England’s most impressive Neolithic monuments can be found here. —Andrea Bussell, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025

Holding the fort down for on to me, all right? —Anna Pook, New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English forte, from Anglo-French fort, from fort, adjective, strong, from Latin fortis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fort

• hold down the fort
• hold the fort

Rhymes for fort

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• port
• porte
• quart
• short
• snort

Kids Definition

fort

noun

ˈfō(ə)rt 

ˈfȯ(ə)rt

1

: a strong or fortified place

2

: a permanent army post