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

In sequences interspersed in the film, Bean and Rozos converse in a kind of fort-like structure erected in a room. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026

That left Martin and their teenage daughter Josie (Chloe East) to hold down the fort in her absence, while colleagues and board members were given only a vague explanation regarding her sudden hiatus. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026

The Royal African Company had acquired forts, ships, and the necessary infrastructure to traffic more than a hundred thousand people from one continent to another. —Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026

Its 19th-century fort, beaches, and donkey sanctuary are all worth a visit. —Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 15 Feb. 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