stronghold
Americannoun
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a defensible place; fortress
-
a major centre or area of predominance
Etymology
Origin of stronghold
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at strong, hold 1
Explanation
A stronghold is a building or other structure that is safe from attack. A fortress is a perfect example of a stronghold. A castle or fort surrounded by stone walls and moats is one kind of stronghold; they are built to keep the people or valuables inside them safe from invading armies. You might build a stronghold of driftwood and rocks around your prized sand sculpture on the beach, or even a figurative stronghold around yourself — to guard against having your feelings hurt.
Vocabulary lists containing stronghold
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse
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The High King
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Pay Attention, Carter Jones
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Socialists won just 28 seats in the 109-seat regional assembly in Andalusia -- the party's worst-ever showing in its former electoral stronghold -- in Sunday's polls in Spain's most populous region.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
However, there was a shock loss for the party to the SNP in their traditional stronghold seat of Shetland.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
Indian Communists lost Kerala, their last remaining stronghold, to the center-left Congress Party.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
Australia made it an offence to travel to the Islamic State's stronghold of Raqqa province in Syria between 2014 and 2017, an attempt to stop its citizens joining the militant group.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
The boys stood there in wonder and nausea, before just such a stronghold.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
