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/Democratic stronghold

strongholds of snobbery

—Lionel Trilling

Synonyms of stronghold

• 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

The 2nd District stretches from the central part of the state west to the Mississippi River and is considered a Democratic stronghold, setting Thompson up to win his 18th congressional term. —Jeff Amy and Sophie Bates The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026

This came after the military reiterated its warning to evacuate the area, a Hezbollah stronghold known as the Dahiyeh. —Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026

The majority come from Lebanon’s south, where the Israeli military has enforced sweeping evacuation orders while launching multiple strikes on the region, a stronghold of the militant group Hezbollah. —Stella Kim, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026

The district stretches from the central part of the state west to the Mississippi River and is a majority Black Democratic stronghold in a state led mainly by Republicans. —ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026

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