fortify
Americanverb (used with object)
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to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works.
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to furnish with a means of resisting force or standing strain or wear.
to fortify cotton with nylon.
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to make strong; impart strength or vigor to.
to fortify oneself with a good breakfast.
- Synonyms:
- reinforce, strengthen
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to increase the effectiveness of, as by additional ingredients.
to fortify a diet with vitamins; to fortify a lotion with lanolin.
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to strengthen mentally or morally.
to be fortified by religious faith.
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to confirm or corroborate.
to fortify an accusation with facts.
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Nutrition. to add one or more ingredients to (a food) to increase its nutritional content.
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to add alcohol to (wine or the like).
verb (used without object)
verb
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(also intr) to make (a place) defensible, as by building walls, digging trenches, etc
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to strengthen physically, mentally, or morally
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to strengthen, support, or reinforce (a garment, structure, etc)
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to add spirits or alcohol to (wine), in order to produce sherry, port, etc
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to increase the nutritious value of (a food), as by adding vitamins and minerals
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to support or confirm
to fortify an argument with facts
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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fortifiableadjective
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unfortifiableadjective
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underfortifyverb (used with object)
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fortifyinglyadverb
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nonfortifyingadjective
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refortifyverb (used with object)
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fortifiernoun
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nonfortifiableadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has fortifiedperfect 3rd person singular
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have fortifiedperfect
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have been fortifyingperfect progressive
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has been fortifyingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is fortifyingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are fortifyingprogressive
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am fortifyingprogressive 1st person singular
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fortifiessingular 3rd person
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fortifyingparticiple
Past
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had fortifiedperfect
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was fortifyingprogressive singular
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were fortifyingprogressive plural
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fortifiedsimple
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fortifiedparticiple
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had been fortifyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of fortify
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English fortifien, from Middle French fortifier, from Late Latin fortificāre, equivalent to Latin forti(s) “strong” + -ficāre -fy
Explanation
If you add nutrients to something you fortify it. Food scientists have found ways to fortify cereal, but in addition to vitamins C and D, they usually add a lot of sugar. If you strengthen your defenses, you fortify them, perhaps by adding more arms or increasing your defensive walls. Sometimes the defenses you fortify will be tangible and sometimes the word is used metaphorically to mean give courage. If a castle was originally vulnerable to attack, the owner might fortify it by adding a moat — and maybe filling it with crocodiles. If you're nervous about giving a speech, you should fortify yourself with a pep talk first.
Vocabulary lists containing fortify
Stay Strong: Forc and Fort
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"The Diary of Anne Frank," Vocabulary from the drama
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Nutrition - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The app, called Mobile Fortify, has in the past few months become a routine feature of ICE arrests, according to current and former government officials.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026
John Quinley, from Fortify Rights, suggested that the recent appeal for foreign aid is more likely an appeal for international recognition.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2025
“To be honest, I don’t feel happy or relieved because we endured almost four years of court proceedings only to have the cases dismissed,” said Thanaporn Saleephol, a former Fortify Rights worker.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 29, 2023
That application came soon after the San Diego County Board of Supervisors awarded a contract to Perimeter Solutions to apply Phos-Chek Fortify along 260 miles of roads in key evacuation corridors.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2023
Fortify the observed facts you wish to recall with a multitude of outside associations.
From The Trained Memory Being the Fourth of a Series of Twelve Volumes on the Applications of Psychology to the Problems of Personal and Business Efficiency by Hilton, Warren
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
