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.
Now, with many of those proxies weakened, Iraq has become one of the last strongholds of Iranian influence. Emma Graham, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025 Long a Democratic stronghold, New Jersey's margins and increasing Republican competitiveness have placed national attention on whether Democrats can sustain their dominance or if Republicans will flip the governor’s office, signaling a potential shift in national political strategies. Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 Los Angeles is one of the last strongholds of apparel production in the United States, and a panel will cover the relationship between nearshoring and reducing fashion’s impact. Sj Staff, Sourcing Journal, 9 Oct. 2025 State and local officials have pushed back and accused the White House of manufacturing a crisis to justify sending soldiers into Democratic strongholds. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 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 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

stronghold

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

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