fortify

[ fawr-tuh-fahy ]

/ ˈfɔr təˌfaɪ /

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).

verb (used without object), for·ti·fied, for·ti·fy·ing.

to set up defensive works; erect fortifications.

Nearby words

fortieth, fortification, fortification agate, fortified pa, fortified wine, fortify, fortin barometer, fortis, fortissimo, fortition, fortitude

Origin of fortify

1400–50; late Middle English fortifien < Middle French fortifier < Late Latin fortificāre, equivalent to Latin forti(s) strong + -ficāre -fy

SYNONYMS FOR fortify

3 strengthen, reinforce.

5 hearten, embolden.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fortify ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

for·ti·fi·a·ble, adjectivefor·ti·fi·er, nounfor·ti·fy·ing·ly, adverbnon·for·ti·fi·a·ble, adjective

non·for·ti·fy·ing, adjectivere·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, adjectiveun·for·ti·fied, adjectivewell-for·ti·fied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fortified

As it happened, the coup members found the State House “fortified with additional soldiers.”
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country|Jacob Siegel|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He also warns that the entire Uffizi museum should be fortified with anti-seismic measures.
Florence Preps ‘David’ for the Big One|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The inauguration had to be held in the fortified Kremlin, surrounded by an eerily quiet city.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015|Movements.Org|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With my back turned, he entered the combination to unlock the door, which was fortified by more than a foot of reinforced steel.
Writing a Novel: Even Making It Up Requires Research|Ridley Pearson|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Central Intelligence Agency found bin Laden hiding in a “fortified compound” in Abbottabad, Pakistan in late 2010.
Hillary Clinton’s New Book Shows Deep Distrust of Pakistan in the Hunt for Bin Laden|Bruce Riedel|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That movement was a movement against the advanced and fortified position of Hougomont.
Waterloo|Hilaire Belloc
Meantime, the rebels had retired to their fortified position at Five Forks.
In The Ranks|R. E. McBride
But the Danes, as soon as they gained a strong position, fortified it, and were never afterwards ejected by force.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume VIII|John Lord
And in that resolve he was fortified by the loyal support of his wife.
Thomas Carlyle|Hector Carsewell Macpherson
We fortified the post by an epaulement or two for cannon, high up on the hillside covering the ferry and the road up New River.
Military Reminiscences of the Civil War V1|Jacob Dolson Cox

British Dictionary definitions for fortified

fortify

/ (ˈfɔːtɪˌfaɪ) /

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 confirmto fortify an argument with facts

Derived Forms

fortifiable, adjectivefortifier, nounfortifyingly, 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012