fortress

American  

[fawr-tris] / ˈfɔr trɪs /

noun

• fortresses
  plural

1. a large fortified place; a fort or group of forts, often including a town; citadel.

2. any place of exceptional security; stronghold.

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fortress British  

/ ˈfɔːtrɪs /

noun

1. a large fort or fortified town

2. a place or source of refuge or support

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verb

1. (tr) to protect with or as if with a fortress

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fortresses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of fortress

1300–50; Middle English forteresse < Old French < Vulgar Latin *fortaricia (compare Medieval Latin fortalitia ), equivalent to Latin fort ( is ) strong + -ar-, formative of uncertain meaning +- icia -ice

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Explanation

A fortress is a large building or complex of buildings used as a military stronghold. In a military sense, a fortress is often called a “fort." From its original sense of stronghold, the word fortress has stretched to include strongholds in a more figurative sense. Martin Luther used fortress to describe unfailing spiritual support when he wrote, “A mighty fortress is our God.” When someone has a hard time trusting others, you might say they have retreated to a "fortress of their own making."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fortress fortresses

Boasting Georgian and Victorian architecture and overlooked by the Medieval fortress Castle Rushen, concerns have been raised over a severe decline in the number shops in Castletown's centre.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

They thought they could build a fortress around quarterback Justin Herbert, providing him an airtight pocket to pick apart defenses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

The list also includes five castles in south Lebanon's Jabal Amel area, among them the Crusader-era Beaufort fortress, which Israeli forces captured in May.

From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026

Arteta has made a point of trying to unlock the atmosphere inside Emirates Stadium as he tries to create a fortress for away teams to fear.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

It was first built as a medieval fortress, complete with a moat.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Two medieval fortresses face each other across the Narva River separating Estonia from Russia on Europe's eastern edge.

From Barron's ● Feb. 6, 2026

Begun in the 15th century, the 25,000-mile network undulated over the Andes and west coast of South America, replete with stone paths, rope bridges, staircases, fortresses, inns and warehouses to serve relays of royal runners.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2025

To love a Scorpio, then, is to fiercely protect their softness with the same shadowy ardor that they use to construct their inner adamantine fortresses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2024

This means researchers simply don't know what is buried in the sites, which are mainly mounds, fortresses, early roadside inns known as caravanserais and canal systems.

From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2024

Some have built fortresses; others have torn them down and destroyed them.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

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Related Words

• barrier
• citadel
• garrison
• rampart

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