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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ashley Eakin: The DGA Disability alt co-chair fosters hope for the future of accessible filmmaking. Between polishing scripts and holding the fort on set, writer-director Ashley Eakin also serves as alt co-chair on the DGA’s Disability Committee. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 May 2025 What had started as little more than a fort, and then a fur-trade outpost, chartered in 1837 with a population of a few thousand, Durica explained, had become the fifth-largest city in the world by 1900. Andrew Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025 Starting on September 17, the grinding siege of the fort lasted until early November—far longer than anyone expected. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025 While on the fort, check out the Casement Museum, which holds a bevy of military history, including a placard explaining that Jefferson Davis was once held as a prisoner there after his capture. Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fort

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fort was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fort. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

fort

noun
ˈfō(ə)rt How to pronounce fort (audio)
ˈfȯ(ə)rt
1
: a strong or fortified place
2
: a permanent army post

More from Merriam-Webster on fort

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