fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs How to pronounce fortress (audio)
Synonyms of fortressnext
: a fortified place : stronghold
especially : a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town
fortresslike adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum was used as a Christian sanctuary, and later as a fortress. Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026 Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026 In October, archaeologists found a fortress that was built along the ancient military road mentioned in the Book of Exodus. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026 But this fortress mentality is a strategic misstep. Ana Paula Assis, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fortress

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of fortress was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fortress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortress. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

fortress

noun
for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs How to pronounce fortress (audio)
: a fortified place

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