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stronghold

noun
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strong·​hold | \ ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld How to pronounce stronghold (audio) \

Definition of stronghold

1 : a fortified place
2a : 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
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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
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Recent Examples on the Web Arizona, historically a Republican stronghold, is seen as a battleground state in this year's election. — Katie Surma, azcentral, "What to expect at Trump's Phoenix 'Keep America Great' campaign rally," 15 Feb. 2020 The congressional district has long been a Republican stronghold, but political observers believe the race is headed for a runoff contest on March 31. — al, "Three Republicans in fight for cash in Alabama’s 1st congressional district," 12 Feb. 2020 Broadly speaking, some of the strongest economic growth during the Trump term has been seen in large, urban counties that are Democratic strongholds—and generally hostile to the president. — Gerald F. Seib, WSJ, "Today, Voters’ Choice Isn’t All About the Economy," 20 Jan. 2020 The district is a Republican stronghold that supported Trump by a wide margin in the presidential election. — Washington Post, "Former Rep. Chris Collins to be sentenced in insider trading case," 17 Jan. 2020 Among female fans in the coveted 35-and-under age grouping, viewership and attendance at N.F.L. games are on the rise, a stronghold among the cord-cutting populace. — Talya Minsberg, New York Times, "For N.F.L. Mothers, ‘Injury Is at the Forefront of Your Mind’," 21 Dec. 2019 Even with climate-change costs mounting, there is plenty of support for such an industry expansion in a state that has long been a Republican stronghold. — Hal Bernton, Anchorage Daily News, "As Alaska permafrost melts, roads sink, bridges tilt and greenhouse gases escape," 17 Dec. 2019 Texas' 13th Congressional District is a GOP stronghold. — Savannah Behrmann, USA TODAY, "Former White House physician Ronny Jackson files to run for Congress in Texas," 10 Dec. 2019 District 22 has been a Republican stronghold but has been trending toward Democrats in recent elections. — Roy Kent, Houston Chronicle, "Pierce Bush announces plan to run for District 22 spot in Fort Bend County," 9 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stronghold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of stronghold

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for stronghold

Time Traveler

The first known use of stronghold was in the 15th century

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Statistics for stronghold

Last Updated

26 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 28 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for stronghold

stronghold

noun
How to pronounce stronghold (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of stronghold

: an area where most people have the same beliefs, values, etc. : an area dominated by a particular group
: a protected place where the members of a military group stay and can defend themselves against attacks
: an area where a particular type of uncommon animal can still be found

See the full definition for stronghold in the English Language Learners Dictionary

stronghold

noun
strong·​hold | \ ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld How to pronounce stronghold (audio) \

Kids Definition of stronghold

: fortress

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More from Merriam-Webster on stronghold

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stronghold

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with stronghold

Spanish Central: Translation of stronghold

Nglish: Translation of stronghold for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of stronghold for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stronghold

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