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

• 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

Iran's most advanced and hardened nuclear facility, the Fordow plant in the country's northwest, is a fortress. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025

The then-British fortress was famously captured by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold in May 1775, marking a pivotal moment in the early stages of the Revolutionary War. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025

In it, three magician brothers reunite from the circus world for one last impossible heist: stealing a priceless twin mummy from an impenetrable fortress to save their family legacy. —Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 16 June 2025

Through mischance and rebel defiance, many of these same redcoats had failed to capture the fortress eight months earlier, despite standing at the gates. —/ Cbs News, CBS News, 13 June 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