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
Once a stronghold of canneries and lumber mills, the town has numerous tumbledown Victorians that have long been havens for artists, brewers, and various eccentrics—along with fans of The Goonies, who make pilgrimages to see where the seminal movie was shot.
—David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
The tit-for-tat strikes were sparked by Israel bombing the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, long considered a Hezbollah stronghold, on Sunday.
—Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 8 June 2026
The operation, according to the army’s statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains, which form part of the militant group’s stronghold.
—Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
The operation, according to the army’s statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains which form a part of the militant group’s stronghold.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
The tit-for-tat strikes were sparked by Israel bombing the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, long considered a Hezbollah stronghold, on Sunday.
—Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 8 June 2026
The operation, according to the army’s statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains, which form part of the militant group’s stronghold.
—Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
The operation, according to the army’s statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains which form a part of the militant group’s stronghold.
—ABC News, 7 June 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 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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