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

Our boys were no longer little travelers content to trail along behind us through forts and museums. —Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026

In 1656 the French soldier Jacques Le Vacher de la Case arrived in a small French fort at the southern tip of Madagascar. —David A. Bell, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026

There are more than 7,000 glaciers capping the hills of Gilgit-Baltistan, and travelers on the new trip can trek alongside them following visits to ancient Buddhist monuments and mud-brick forts. —The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026

Put them in tents, build forts, etc. —Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 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