stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld 
1
: a fortified place
2
a
: a place of security or survival
one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language—
George Holmes
George Holmes
b
: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
a Republican stronghold
strongholds of snobbery—Lionel Trilling
Lionel TrillingExamples of stronghold in a Sentence
The area is a Republican stronghold.
The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold.
the last stronghold of the endangered deer
Recent Examples on the Web
During the dictatorships after World War II, the natural barrier of the Accursed Mountains was fortified, set about with land mines, and patrolled, effectively isolating the stronghold of Albania from the rest of the world.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Jabalia camp, viewed as a Hamas stronghold and site of the beginning of the second intifada, followed this pattern and has now been completely destroyed by the Israeli army.
—Shelly Culbertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
And the housing shortage has spread beyond coastal cities normally dominated by Democrats to rural areas in Republican strongholds.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
There is a clear electoral constituency in South Florida, a vital Republican stronghold, that has opposed Maduro and demanded American action against his government.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Jabalia camp, viewed as a Hamas stronghold and site of the beginning of the second intifada, followed this pattern and has now been completely destroyed by the Israeli army.
—Shelly Culbertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
And the housing shortage has spread beyond coastal cities normally dominated by Democrats to rural areas in Republican strongholds.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
There is a clear electoral constituency in South Florida, a vital Republican stronghold, that has opposed Maduro and demanded American action against his government.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Cite this Entry
“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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