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.
However, Salt Lake County remains a Democratic stronghold that backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by 10 points last November. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025 According to the poll, Republican primary voters in the GOP stronghold favor the Congressional redistricting plan set in motion by Governor Greg Abbott. Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025 Israel says Gaza City is still a Hamas stronghold, with a network of militant tunnels, after several previous large-scale raids. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 23 Aug. 2025 Redistricting has also been floated in the red states of Ohio, Florida, Indiana and Missouri — and in Democratic strongholds such as Maryland and Illinois. Julia Mueller, The Hill, 21 Aug. 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 31 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

stronghold

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

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