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

Alexander the Great conquered it in 332 BCE after building a causeway to what had been considered an impregnable island fortress. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 23 June 2026

Some, like France's Maginot Line, became border fortresses stretching for miles, while German coastal defenses sat on the cliffs of Normandy, requiring the Allies to take out with sea bombardments and direct infantry assaults. — David Szondy june 23, New Atlas, 23 June 2026

As if Sourland was a fortress and not a patchwork of trees, fields, and potheads tripping on botany. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026

Seattle fortress There was no fashionably late-arriving crowd at the stadium on Friday for a noon start despite the revelry downtown on Thursday night. — David Close, CNN Money, 20 June 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