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
But Maples, and another Republican running for the Florida Senate, Brian Nathan, lost to Democrats in the latest sign that Democrats are performing well in traditional Republican strongholds.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
By January of last year, Russia was steadily eroding Ukraine’s defenses in the south and in the Donbas, capturing key towns and pushing Ukraine toward a shrinking set of strongholds.
—Olivier Kempf, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Northern Israel has come under especially heavy fire from Hezbollah in recent days, and residents, including people in traditional Netanyahu strongholds, have voiced anger over Israel's failure to halt the attacks.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee invested millions into several House contests, hoping to box out progressive, anti-Israel candidates from winning safe Democratic strongholds.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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Josh Meyer, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
By January of last year, Russia was steadily eroding Ukraine’s defenses in the south and in the Donbas, capturing key towns and pushing Ukraine toward a shrinking set of strongholds.
—Olivier Kempf, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Northern Israel has come under especially heavy fire from Hezbollah in recent days, and residents, including people in traditional Netanyahu strongholds, have voiced anger over Israel's failure to halt the attacks.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee invested millions into several House contests, hoping to box out progressive, anti-Israel candidates from winning safe Democratic strongholds.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 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 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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