fortitude
noun
Did you know?
Fortitude comes from the Latin word fortis, meaning “strong,” and in English it has always been used primarily to describe strength of mind. For a time, the word was also used to mean “physical strength”; William Shakespeare used it that way in Henry VI, Part 1: “Coward of France! How much he wrongs his fame / Despairing of his own arm's fortitude.” But despite use by the Bard of Avon, that meaning languished and is now considered obsolete. Even the familiar phrase “intestinal fortitude” is just a humorous way to refer to someone’s courage or mental stamina, not the literal strength of their digestive system. (If you’re looking to describe such a gastrointestinal tract, we might suggest “iron stomach.”)
Examples of fortitude in a Sentence
Nicholas Fox Weber, The Clarks Of Cooperstown, 2007
But now Frum, by having the fortitude to revisit that bizarre era, has half-persuaded me that the '70s, a partial negation of the '60s, in one way, were a partial confirmation of them in another.
—Christopher Hitchens, Civilization, April/May 2000
He learned that war was a hurly-burly of violence in which men prevailed through imagination and the fortitude to struggle on despite reverses.
—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
She has endured disappointments with fortitude and patience.
it was only with the greatest fortitude that the Pilgrims were able to survive their first winter in Plymouth
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Though Graham had concerns for how Cooper would be handle the pressure of this style, he was quickly given comfort by the young actor’s fortitude.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2025
That Friday’s game was close at all was a testament to Oklahoma’s fortitude, especially that of star freshman Jeremiah Fears, who wound up scoring 20 of the Sooners’ points and making five of their 17 total baskets.
—Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
But all of those steps first require mental health and fortitude.
—Olga Khazan, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fortitude
Cite this Entry
“Fortitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortitude. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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fortitude
noun
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