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

On Sunday, Israeli forces seized the historic Beaufort castle, a symbolic fort in southern Lebanon that offers commanding views across Lebanon and into northern Israel. —Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026

These beaches are some of the best in Florida for finding shells and fossilized shark teeth, especially near the fort and jetties. —Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026

On Sunday, Israeli forces seized a symbolic fort in southern Lebanon that offers commanding views across Lebanon and into northern Israel. —ABC News, 31 May 2026

Wyatt said the man appeared to have camped at the property, using cushions to make what Wyatt described as a fort near a cliff. —Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 30 May 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