fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs 

: a fortified place : stronghold

especially : a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town

fortresslike

ˈfȯr-trəs-līk 

adjective

Synonyms

• bastion
• castle
• citadel
• fastness
• fort
• fortification
• hold
• redoubt
• stronghold

Examples of fortress in a Sentence

the boys built a snow fortress and then challenged the neighborhood kids to an in-your-face snowball fight

Recent Examples on the Web

This means turning Ukraine into a defensive fortress with German arms and money. —David McWilliams, Time, 9 Apr. 2025

But the Romans eventually built up Vindobona into a full-scale military fortress—and perhaps this first-century battle was the catalyst. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025

Born in Grenada to an enslaved mother and fluent in English, Christophe is perhaps best known as the architect of the famous Citadelle Henry, the mountaintop fortress completed in 1813 to guard against another French occupation. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025

Marshaling a dozen increasingly precious armored vehicles, the Russians attacked toward the fortress city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. —David Axe, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English forteresse, from Anglo-French fortelesce, forteresse, from Medieval Latin fortalitia, from Latin fortis strong

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs 

: a fortified place