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
Rehmet’s victory was especially encouraging to Democratic Party leadership, considering the district is considered a red stronghold.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Feb. 2026
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, was elected mayor of New York City, a Democratic stronghold that saw the highest voter turnout in a mayor’s race in 50 years.
—John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The force dispatched to the southern Helmand province – a Taliban stronghold and a center of opium production – initially comprised mostly British and Danish troops, before the US sent reinforcements in 2008.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Away from this airport stronghold, populations are so small and habitats so eroded that the snakes would be in a downward spiral of inbreeding and population decline if left to their own devices.
—Pepper St. Clair, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Feb. 2026
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, was elected mayor of New York City, a Democratic stronghold that saw the highest voter turnout in a mayor’s race in 50 years.
—John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The force dispatched to the southern Helmand province – a Taliban stronghold and a center of opium production – initially comprised mostly British and Danish troops, before the US sent reinforcements in 2008.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Away from this airport stronghold, populations are so small and habitats so eroded that the snakes would be in a downward spiral of inbreeding and population decline if left to their own devices.
—Pepper St. Clair, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Cite this Entry
“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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