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

• fortress
• bastion
• citadel
• fortification
• castle
• fort

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

Once a royal residence turned military stronghold, its subterranean spaces include powder magazines and storerooms that played a vital role in its defense, illustrating medieval fortification architecture. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

The company has also been a Tennessee stronghold on the Fortune 500 for over a decade. —Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Texas has long been a Republican stronghold, but Democrats have viewed the state as within reach as its Democratic voter base has grown over the last few election cycles. —Riley Beggin, USA Today, 1 July 2025

Now, there are signs of upside exhaustion to suggest that MSFT may soon relinquish its leadership stronghold. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 30 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stronghold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld 

: fortress