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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

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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 Abbott has proposed a $400 million roof fortification program. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 July 2026 Launched in 2024, MICAS occupies restored 17th-century Floriana fortifications, a former Knights-era poorhouse, and a gunpowder store in Malta’s Baroque capital city Valletta. — The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 27 July 2026 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 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
  • For those who favor outdoor adventure, climb up the famed hiking trail to get to the medieval fortress at the very top of the town.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • New archaeological discoveries at Tell Al-Abqain in Beheira are revealing details about life within the ancient Egyptian fortress, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Wednesday.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of fortress
Noun
  • Moody has so far refused to debate Nixon, hoping instead to ride political gravity in a formerly purple state that has become a Republican stronghold.
    — Zoe Millán, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
  • During the final phase of the war in Gaza, Israel and the United States caused significant military and economic damage to Houthi strongholds in Yemen.
    — April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of stronghold
Noun
  • Castellón To the north, Castellón unfolds as a mountainous marvel where medieval citadels, golden beaches, and tiny fishing villages create a landscape of contrasts, with the scent of citrus perfuming the air.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • One night, a cockroach breaches his citadel, and Pratt swiftly dispatches it.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of citadel
Noun
  • The rise of far-right populism in Europe’s biggest economy, which has for decades been viewed as a bastion of stability, centrist policymaking and EU leadership, is being closely watched across the continent.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Militarizing an arch in front of the Memorial Bridge is an even more dangerous and stupid idea than turning a ballroom into a bastion.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of bastion
Noun
  • There are Resident Evil games set in Spanish castles, runaway trains, ocean liners, weird mansions, the bayou, and strange theme-park-like villages, with bespoke creatures in each.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Trump’s imaginings of castle-like defenses on the Potomac move beyond mere bad taste to a place of genuine weirdness.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of castle
Noun
  • The fort has long been used for events and recreation, but many of its historic buildings still need major work.
    — Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The garrison’s enormous flag was waving on its flagpole, some 90 feet high—a clear signal that the American fort had survived the Battle of Baltimore.
    — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 11, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of fort

Browse Nearby Words

forthwith
fortification
fortifications
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Cite this Entry

“Fortification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortification. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fortification

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fortification

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