Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for fortify on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), for·ti·fied, for·ti·fy·ing. to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works. to furnish with a means of resisting force or standing strain or wear: to fortify cotton with nylon. to make strong; impart strength or vigor to: to fortify oneself with a good breakfast. to increase the effectiveness of, as by additional ingredients: to fortify a diet with vitamins; to fortify a lotion with lanolin. to strengthen mentally or morally: to be fortified by religious faith. to confirm or corroborate: to fortify an accusation with facts. Nutrition to add one or more ingredients to (a food) to increase its nutritional content. to add alcohol to (wine or the like). Show More
verb (used without object), for·ti·fied, for·ti·fy·ing. to set up defensive works; erect fortifications . Show More
Origin of fortify 1400–50; late Middle English fortifien <
Middle French fortifier <
Late Latin fortificāre, equivalent to
Latin forti(s ) strong +
-ficāre -fy Related forms for·ti·fi·a·ble , adjective for·ti·fi·er , noun for·ti·fy·ing·ly , adverb non·for·ti·fi·a·ble , adjective non·for·ti·fy·ing , adjective re·for·ti·fy , verb (used with object), re·for·ti·fied, re·for·ti·fy·ing. un·der·for·ti·fy , verb (used with object), un·der·for·ti·fied, un·der·for·ti·fy·ing. un·for·ti·fi·a·ble , adjective un·for·ti·fied , adjective well-for·ti·fied , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for fortified guarded ,
protected ,
walled ,
strengthened ,
secured ,
barricaded ,
armored ,
entrenched ,
armed ,
manned ,
garrisoned ,
strong Examples from the Web for fortified Contemporary Examples of fortified As it happened, the coup members found the State House “fortified with additional soldiers.”
He also warns that the entire Uffizi museum should be fortified with anti-seismic measures.
The inauguration had to be held in the fortified Kremlin, surrounded by an eerily quiet city.
With my back turned, he entered the combination to unlock the door, which was fortified by more than a foot of reinforced steel.
The Central Intelligence Agency found bin Laden hiding in a “fortified compound” in Abbottabad, Pakistan in late 2010.
Historical Examples of fortified The place chosen for the fortified city of the Cymry was among the mountains.
Thus armed and fortified , do you think they'll ask other reference of their nurse?
These fortified points had to be attacked generally or not at all.
This position had been fortified with trenches and wire entanglements.
They fled to their fortified town on the shore of Lake Canandaigua.
British Dictionary definitions for fortified verb -fies , -fying or -fied (mainly tr) (also intr) to make (a place) defensible, as by building walls, digging trenches, etc to strengthen physically, mentally, or morally to strengthen, support, or reinforce (a garment, structure, etc) to add spirits or alcohol to (wine), in order to produce sherry, port, etc to increase the nutritious value of (a food), as by adding vitamins and minerals to support or confirm to fortify an argument with facts Show More
Derived Forms fortifiable , adjective fortifier , noun fortifyingly , adverb Word Origin for fortify C15: from Old French fortifier , from Late Latin fortificāre , from Latin fortis strong + facere to make
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for fortified v. early 15c., "increase efficacy" (of medicine); mid-15c., "provide (a town) with walls and defenses," from Old French fortifiier (14c.) "to fortify, strengthen," from Late Latin fortificare "to strengthen, make strong," from Latin fortis "strong" (see fort ) + facere "to make" (see factitious ).
Sense of "to strengthen mentally or morally" is from late 15c. Meaning "add liquor or alcohol" is from 1880. Related: Fortified ; fortifying .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
