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 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
They are armed with automatic weapons – largely smuggled from the United States – and move unhindered through the narrow, winding alleys of their neighborhood strongholds in Port-au-Prince, which national and multinational police forces are often unable to navigate in their bulky armored vehicles.
—Linnea Fehrm, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2025
Once an important feudal stronghold deep in the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto is known today for its towering castle; arguably the most stunning fortification in the entire country with its black-onyx trim and turquoise moat filled with curious koi.
—Brandon Presser, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2025
Around the fortress city of Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine, Russian assaults are down 80 percent compared to their recent peak in mid-January, according to Ukrainian analysis group DeepState.
—David Axe, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Six years after the SDF captured the last ISIS stronghold in Syria, ISIS fighters still operate in central and eastern Syria.
—Robert S. Ford, Foreign Affairs, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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.
Linnea Fehrm, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2025
Once an important feudal stronghold deep in the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto is known today for its towering castle; arguably the most stunning fortification in the entire country with its black-onyx trim and turquoise moat filled with curious koi.
—Brandon Presser, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2025
Around the fortress city of Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine, Russian assaults are down 80 percent compared to their recent peak in mid-January, according to Ukrainian analysis group DeepState.
—David Axe, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Six years after the SDF captured the last ISIS stronghold in Syria, ISIS fighters still operate in central and eastern Syria.
—Robert S. Ford, Foreign Affairs, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Cite this Entry
“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share