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

b

: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic

a Republican/Democratic stronghold

strongholds of snobbery

—Lionel Trilling

Synonyms of stronghold

• fortress
• bastion
• citadel
• fortification
• castle
• fort

Examples 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

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle received Frogmore Cottage—a historic estate located in Windsor, which, unsurprisingly, is a stronghold of the Windsors—as a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth II. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026

The military has increasingly used airstrikes to counter opposition forces, including the armed People’s Defense Forces in Sagaing region, a stronghold of armed resistance. — Grant Peck, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

In the Almería suburb of La Cañada, one of Vox’s strongholds, those talking points are producing results. — Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

The three are all historically Democratic strongholds that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stronghold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld 

: fortress