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 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 army has continued air strikes in the Darfur region, the RSF’s stronghold.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 6 May 2025
These strip malls were a way for residents to create a stronghold in their communities, with restaurants, markets and other businesses that catered to an Asian clientele.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Arkansas, Montana, and Kansas also saw 6-point declines, signaling that the erosion is nationwide—even in Republican strongholds.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
As its neighbors in the Middle East have been plunged into regional conflict, Jordan has stood as a rare, neutral stronghold of peace, resisting being dragged into proxy war.
—Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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Reuters, CNN Money, 6 May 2025
These strip malls were a way for residents to create a stronghold in their communities, with restaurants, markets and other businesses that catered to an Asian clientele.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Arkansas, Montana, and Kansas also saw 6-point declines, signaling that the erosion is nationwide—even in Republican strongholds.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
As its neighbors in the Middle East have been plunged into regional conflict, Jordan has stood as a rare, neutral stronghold of peace, resisting being dragged into proxy war.
—Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 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 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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