fortification

noun

ˌfȯr-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce fortification (audio)
Definition of fortificationnext
as in fortress
a structure or place from which one can resist attack defenders at the border fortifications preparing for an attack

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fortification The discovery was made beneath an Israelite-period ritual deposit and adjacent to an ancient Canaanite fortification wall, according to the excavation team. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026 Layered air-defense systems Iran complements physical fortification with air-defense systems positioned around strategically important military and industrial areas. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026 Spanish forces completed the coquina stone fortress in 1695 on the site of an earlier wooden fortification. — Lane Degregory, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 The serene and sumptuous rooms at Patina have tatami mat daybeds plus washi paper headboards inspired by Osaka Castle’s impressive granite fortifications. — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fortification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortification
  1. fortress
  2. stronghold
  3. citadel
  4. bastion
  5. castle
  6. fort
Noun
  • The Rocca di Fregosa, a fortress atop a natural cliff overlooking the Marecchia River valley, dominates the hamlet visually.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Now, a selection of these objects are on view as part of a summer festival at the Damascus Citadel, a former military fortress and UNESCO World Heritage site that recently reopened.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of fortress
Noun
  • To a lesser extent, Republicans have traditionally also had districts that were unopposed in their strongholds with longtime incumbents.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed dominated college towns and university counties, while Haley Stevens won more than 60% in Detroit and carried traditional Democratic strongholds.
    — Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of stronghold
Noun
  • One night, a cockroach breaches his citadel, and Pratt swiftly dispatches it.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Laelaps was sent to chase a fox that was terrorizing the Cadmea, a citadel.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Definition of citadel
Noun
  • The city’s standing as a bastion of British literature, theatre, and classical music means that festivals are also a major draw year-round, like February’s Bath BachFest and the Children’s Literature Festival in September.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • President Emmanuel Macron and others who regard Europe as the last bastion of liberal Western values?
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of bastion
Noun
  • No matter the time of year, there’s no shortage of iconic attractions in Edinburgh, from its massive castle to Calton Hill and Mary King’s Close, a subterranean living museum beneath the Royal Mile.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Balmoral has been the summer residence of the British royal family since the reign of Queen Victoria, whose husband, Prince Albert, purchased the castle and the surrounding 7,000 acres in 1845.
    — Roberta Mercuri, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of castle
Noun
  • The Holy Presentation Church, which was built in 1725 within a fort near Zaporizhzhia and transported to its current location at Beryslav in 1784, is said to be the last surviving example of wooden Cossack architecture in the country.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Kat and Aesha take the guests swimming in some nearby caves while the rest of the crew holds down the fort.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of fort

Browse Nearby Words

forthwith
fortification
fortifications
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fortification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortification. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on fortification

Nglish: Translation of fortification for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fortification

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All