fortification

[fawr-tuh-fi-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of fortifying or strengthening.

2. something that fortifies or protects.

3. the art or science of constructing defensive military works.

4. Often fortifications. military works constructed for the purpose of strengthening a position; a fort.

   Supposedly impregnable, the fortifications were quickly overrun.

   Synonyms: bulwark, stronghold, citadel, fortress

5. a strengthening or improvement, as by addition of or intensification with another ingredient.

   the fortification of milk with vitamin D; the fortification of wine with alcohol.

fortification

/ ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act, art, or science of fortifying or strengthening

2. 1. a wall, mound, etc, used to fortify a place

   2. such works collectively

3. any place that can be militarily defended

Other Word Forms

• nonfortification noun
• refortification noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fortification¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin fortificātiōn- (stem of fortificātiō ), equivalent to fortificāt ( us ) fortified ( fortify, -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The allegation is that Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and other key ministers and officials received payments from contractors building fortifications against Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

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“Hamas’s internal fortifications, they remain as they were,” he said.

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These new fortifications carved in the Ukrainian dirt chart a deteriorating situation here in Donetsk.

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But Ukraine is estimated to have held onto about 30% of Donetsk, including several key cities and fortifications, at a cost of tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives.

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"If we withdraw from the Donbas today - our fortifications, our terrain, the heights we control - we will clearly open a bridgehead for the Russians to prepare an offensive," he said.

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Related Words

• barricade 
• citadel 
• fortress 
• reinforcement