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

Established in 1848 as a trading post, the fort is home to what is considered the largest and best-preserved adobe structure in Texas. —Gabi De La Rosa, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026

All told, the blanket fort included hundreds of sheets draped over tent poles and anchored by ropes, pipes, and even binder clips. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2026

Across from the decommissioned fort sits the building where the Anacostia Community Museum has resided for four decades. —Camille Borders, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026

What does come to the fort is a bloating sickness that takes many of their young people, Brith’s brother included. —Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026

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