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 famous bard, 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 a mighty 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
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
28 June 2026
Over the decades, Supergirl, who first appeared in May 1959 in a DC comic book, has become a catalyst for feminism and fortitude.
—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
However, optimizing it in meaningful ways that are beneficial to its key constituencies is possible and can be rewarding on many levels if would-be disruptors are realistic about the scale and complexity of the challenges and have the creativity, patience, and fortitude to overcome them.
—
Web Golinkin,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Teams love Stirtz’s mental fortitude, leadership and of course his ability to score.
—
Pj Green,
Kansas City Star,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fortitude
Cite this Entry
“Fortitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortitude. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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fortitude
noun
