fort

noun

ˈfȯrt 

1

: a strong or fortified place

especially : a fortified place occupied only by troops and surrounded with such works as a ditch, rampart, and parapet : fortification

2

: a permanent army post

—often used in place names

Synonyms of fort

• fortress
• stronghold
• fortification
• citadel
• castle
• bastion

Examples of fort in a Sentence

They captured the fort after a long battle.

a series of forts along the frontier

Recent Examples on the Web

The plan also urges African countries to preserve former slave forts and castles as memorial sites. —Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2026

The fort played an important role in the development of Sacramento. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026

Freedom250 is promising attendees an interactive experience at the state pavilions, from Michigan's mechanical milking cow to Florida's re-creation of a Spanish fort honoring explorer Juan Ponce de León. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 June 2026

Old San Juan’s blue‑cobblestone streets wind past 16th‑century forts, sherbet‑colored rowhouses and plazas. —David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English forte, from Anglo-French fort, from fort, adjective, strong, from Latin fortis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fort

• hold down the fort
• hold the fort

Rhymes for fort

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• port
• porte
• quart
• short
• snort

Kids Definition

fort

noun

ˈfō(ə)rt 

ˈfȯ(ə)rt

1

: a strong or fortified place

2

: a permanent army post