fortify

verb

for·​ti·​fy ˈfȯr-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce fortify (audio)
fortified; fortifying

transitive verb

: to make strong: such as
a
: to strengthen and secure (a place, such as a town) by forts or batteries
a city fortified by high walls
b
: to give physical strength, courage, or endurance to
fortified by a hearty meal
c
: to add mental or moral strength to : encourage
fortified by prayer
fortified by early successes
d
: to strengthen or enhance by the addition of some substance or ingredient: such as
(1)
: to add distilled grape spirits to (wine) during fermentation to increase the alcohol content
… both the red and white versions we get in this country have been American-made-from California wine fortified with a touch of brandy.Jim Nelson
(2)
: to enrich (food) by adding ingredients (such as vitamins or minerals) to improve the nutritional value
… make sure any soy milk you buy is fortified with vitamin D, an essential nutrient for bone health.Selene Yeager
fortifier noun

Did you know?

Medieval cities were fortified against attack by high walls, and volunteers may fortify a levee against an overflowing river by means of sandbags. Foods can be fortified by adding vitamins, but "fortified wines", such as sherry and port, have brandy (a "stronger" drink) rather than vitamins added to them. By adopting good exercise habits, you can fortify your body against illness. And fortifying needn't always be physical. An author's reputation may be fortified by the success of his new book, or a prosecutor can fortify a case against a suspect by finding more evidence.

Examples of fortify in a Sentence

fortify a city against attack a city fortified by high walls Support for his theories has been fortified by the results of these experiments. He took a deep breath to fortify himself before stepping onto the stage. milk fortified with vitamin D
Recent Examples on the Web Other experts say that while Australia is not as vocal as the US in calling out China’s aggressions, Canberra is still hedging against Beijing’s growing military presence in the region by actively fortifying its regional security alliances. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 And Miami retaining Wilkins, who recorded a career-high nine sacks, would help to fortify the team’s interior pass rush alongside Zach Sieler, whose 10 sacks were also a career-high. Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Hunyadi achieved that through a mix of military innovation – including the use of artillery and firearms – the foresight of fortifying Belgrade’s fortress at his own cost, inspired tactics and improvisation. John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024 Western toads and tree frogs thrive in the spring water that seeps from the base of an arched alcove fortified with concrete and then into a murky pond where carp cruise beneath a battered life-size rubber duck floating upside down. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 And in San Clemente, the state is planning to build a $7.2 million wall to fortify a landslide area in an effort to hold back a slipping hillside that has closed down the train service through Orange County. Liz Kreutz, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 This endeavor fortifies customer appreciation and underscores Sovrana's dedication to celebrating its history while actively engaging in the present community fabric. Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Implementing preventative measures and learning from past crises can fortify an organization against future uncertainties. Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Heavily fortified with a web of tunnels and concrete fortifications, Avdiivka lies in the northern suburbs of Donetsk, a city in a region of the same name that Russian forces partially occupy. Geir Moulson, Kerstin Sopke, Illia Novikov and Barry Hatton The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 18 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fortify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fortifien, from Anglo-French fortifier, from Late Latin fortificare, from Latin fortis strong

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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

Dictionary Entries Near fortify

Cite this Entry

“Fortify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortify. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fortify

verb
for·​ti·​fy ˈfȯrt-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce fortify (audio)
fortified; fortifying
: to make strong: as
a
: to strengthen by military defenses
fortify a town
b
: to give strength or endurance to
fortify the body against illness
a team fortified by the cheering crowd
c
: to add material to for strengthening or improving : enrich
fortify a soil with fertilizer
milk fortified with vitamin D
fortifier noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fortify

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