stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld How to pronounce stronghold (audio)
1
: a fortified place
2
a
: a place of security or survival
one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic languageGeorge Holmes
b
: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
a Republican stronghold
strongholds of snobberyLionel Trilling

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The province has long been a political stronghold for the Peronists, marking a dramatic political shift. CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025 The move also highlights the Democratic Party’s internal reckoning over its ideological future, especially in urban strongholds like New York City. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025 These districts include Republican strongholds like the southeast shore of Staten Island, southern Brooklyn, and northeast Queens, according to a recent analysis by City Limits, but also blue neighborhoods like Bay Ridge and the Upper West Side. Kim Velsey, Curbed, 24 Oct. 2025 Democrats see wins in battle for suburbia While some Democratic strongholds buttressed by working class voters have grown redder, the suburbs north of Indianapolis appear to be trending in the opposite direction. Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stronghold

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

stronghold

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

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