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
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
For now, veteran Mikael Granlund might hold down the fort until McQueen is ready to take over the role.
—
Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
Discover over 3 miles of beaches, hundreds of years of history (see old military forts and the iconic black-and-white Tybee Island Light Station, built in 1773), and lots of opportunities to explore nature.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
In Normal, our guy plays Ulysses, a substitute sheriff who’s just holding down the fort for a few weeks until a new sheriff can be elected after the old one passed away under strange circumstances.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
The forts, palaces, gardens, mosques, mausoleums, and even cities that Mughal rulers commissioned reflect their ambition and affluence as much as their tastes and sensibilities.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fort
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Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026
Discover over 3 miles of beaches, hundreds of years of history (see old military forts and the iconic black-and-white Tybee Island Light Station, built in 1773), and lots of opportunities to explore nature.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
In Normal, our guy plays Ulysses, a substitute sheriff who’s just holding down the fort for a few weeks until a new sheriff can be elected after the old one passed away under strange circumstances.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
The forts, palaces, gardens, mosques, mausoleums, and even cities that Mughal rulers commissioned reflect their ambition and affluence as much as their tastes and sensibilities.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fort
Cite this Entry
“Fort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fort. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fort
noun
ˈfō(ə)rt 
ˈfȯ(ə)rt
1
: a strong or fortified place
2
: a permanent army post
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