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
The redrawn seat will lose many rural areas and pick up less conservative areas including San Marcos, Vista and the Democratic stronghold of Palm Springs in Riverside County — changes that give Democrats a 4-point registration advantage.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025
Tennessee has long been a Republican stronghold in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.
—Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2025
The seat, vacated by Republican Mark Green in July, has long been a conservative stronghold.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
The president, however, has dismissed immediate plans to send federal authorities to New York City, his hometown and a Democratic stronghold, after meeting with the city’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
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Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025
Tennessee has long been a Republican stronghold in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.
—Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2025
The seat, vacated by Republican Mark Green in July, has long been a conservative stronghold.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
The president, however, has dismissed immediate plans to send federal authorities to New York City, his hometown and a Democratic stronghold, after meeting with the city’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Cite this Entry
“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
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stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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