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 stronghold

strongholds of snobbery

—Lionel Trilling

Synonyms

• bastion
• castle
• citadel
• fastness
• fort
• fortification
• fortress
• hold
• redoubt

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

As Russian forces marched from the ruins of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine toward the Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk back in August, the Ukrainian general staff in Kyiv grew desperate. —David Axe, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

The Bagler army crept into the stronghold through a secret door as residents dined, burning everything inside, according to the study. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024

Victory in Pennsylvania might be all about losing by less in the other party’s strongholds. —Vox Staff, Vox, 22 Oct. 2024

President Republican voters in Utah have not expressed the same level of enthusiasm for former President Trump as in other GOP strongholds. —Erin Alberty, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld 

: fortress