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

For the analysis, published in the journal Parasitology, researchers looked at 50 sediment samples taken from the drain of a third-century latrine at the fort. —Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2025

More than 1,000 thin wooden tablets written with ink and documenting daily life at the fort and a collection of over 5,000 Roman leather shoes have all been uncovered at Vindolanda. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Dec. 2025

Fort Pickens remains a popular 19th-century fort to visit, protected and preserved along the Gulf Islands National Seashore. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025

Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough will hold down the fort in Vegas, while Puerto Rico anchors will be announced soon. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 10 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