fortress

American  

[fawr-tris] / ˈfɔr trɪs /

noun

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

2. any place of exceptional security; stronghold.

---

fortress British  

/ ˈfɔːtrɪs /

noun

1. a large fort or fortified town

2. a place or source of refuge or support

---

verb

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

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

Example Sentences

Alcatraz island - nicknamed "the Rock" because it was regarded as an impregnable fortress - is home to the shuttered federal penitentiary that housed some of the most dangerous criminals in the US.

From BBC

The embossed crosses on multiple turrets present a towering fortress with absolute castle stature.

From Literature

One worry about how defensible Netflix’s fortress is comes from how fast it got here.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The building is a fortress, it’s got thick concrete walls,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

The Maduros tried to escape into a safe place, the US president explained, describing it as a military "fortress".

From BBC

Related Words

• barrier
• citadel
• garrison
• rampart