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 of fortress

• stronghold
• citadel
• fortification
• castle
• bastion
• fort

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

Your best bet for landing a slumber party at this fortress would be to start planning a destination wedding to the Scottish Highlands, as the castle can be booked as a wedding venue. —Alison McDermott, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026

France believed its Maginot Line of fortresses was impregnable – until the Germans simply went around it. —New Atlas, 19 Feb. 2026

Worth singling out for praise is the Treehouse Suite, the only option which lies outside of the main fortress. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026

Collins, a 9/11 truther and QAnon convert who sports a black MAGA hat and custom dental fangs, moved to rural Shawmut, Montana, in 2016 to build a bug-out — an off-grid fortress suitable for waiting out a plague or world war — and raise horses with his wife, Starla. —Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 17 Feb. 2026

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