stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld 
1
: a fortified place
2
a
: a place of security or survival
… one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language …—
George Holmes
George Holmes
b
: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
a Republican/Democratic stronghold
strongholds of snobbery—Lionel Trilling
Lionel TrillingExamples of stronghold in a Sentence
The area is a Republican stronghold.
The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold.
the last stronghold of the endangered deer
Recent Examples on the Web
Her community in Wayne County, Ohio, has been a Republican stronghold for half a century.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The defining moment of Hadi’s presidency came in 2014, when Houthi fighters swept south from their northern strongholds and captured Sanaa amid growing public anger over economic hardship and political instability.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Bunratty Castle Bunratty Castle is the last remaining stronghold on this site, which began as a Viking trading camp in 970.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
Democrats have not won the governor’s office in Georgia since 2002, though the state has evolved from a Republican stronghold to a fiercely competitive battleground over the past decade.
—Nik Popli, Time, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The defining moment of Hadi’s presidency came in 2014, when Houthi fighters swept south from their northern strongholds and captured Sanaa amid growing public anger over economic hardship and political instability.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Bunratty Castle Bunratty Castle is the last remaining stronghold on this site, which began as a Viking trading camp in 970.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
Democrats have not won the governor’s office in Georgia since 2002, though the state has evolved from a Republican stronghold to a fiercely competitive battleground over the past decade.
—Nik Popli, Time, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Cite this Entry
“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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