fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs How to pronounce fortress (audio)
: a fortified place : stronghold
especially : a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town
fortresslike adjective

Examples of fortress in a Sentence

the boys built a snow fortress and then challenged the neighborhood kids to an in-your-face snowball fight
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.
With no end to the war in sight and lacking effective air defense, Kharkiv gradually has turned from a fortress of resilience into a fortress of solitude. Katya Soldak, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 The only representations they were allowed were through mass media or images of migrants on canoes collapsing in front of European fortresses. Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024 International law experts say Israel still has a responsibility to protect civilians even if Hamas exploits them. City Center Within the city of Khan Younis, only one citadel wall remains of its Mamluk-era fortress, ground away by centuries and wars past. Raja Abdulrahim, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2024 The fortress, known as Apsaros, lies along Georgia’s western coast in what is now the town of Gonio. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fortress 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English forteresse, from Anglo-French fortelesce, forteresse, from Medieval Latin fortalitia, from Latin fortis strong

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fortress was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near fortress

Cite this Entry

“Fortress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortress. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fortress

noun
for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs How to pronounce fortress (audio)
: a fortified place

More from Merriam-Webster on fortress

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