stronghold

[ strawng-hohld, strong- ]

noun

1. a well-fortified place; fortress.

   Synonyms: bastion, bulwark

2. a place that serves as the center of a group, as of militants or of persons holding hold holding a controversial viewpoint:

   The campus was a stronghold of liberalism.

   Synonyms: refuge, home, bastion, bulwark

stronghold

/ ˈstrɒŋˌhəʊld /

noun

1. a defensible place; fortress
2. a major centre or area of predominance

Word History and Origins

Origin of stronghold¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; strong, hold ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of stronghold¹

C15: from strong + hold ¹(in the archaic sense: a fortified place)

Example Sentences

They had table after table of phone lines, and computers were really getting a stronghold, and they had reporters from all over the world.

From Vox

You don’t have to look very hard to see that the high-desert city of Albuquerque is an adventure stronghold.

From Outside Online

In the midst of all this inclusion, however, the LGBTQ community – traditionally a stronghold for some of Oscar’s most ardent fans – has this year been largely left empty-handed, once again.

From Washington Blade

In Montana and Pennsylvania, the party is trying to end statewide judicial elections — a way to prevent liberal strongholds from dominating the vote.

From Washington Post

Conservative Democrats locked down the South, the blue-collar wing performed well in the Upper Midwest, and liberals helped hold coastal strongholds.

From Washington Post

“People really did think it was a political stronghold,” Sismondo says.

From The Daily Beast

A Shiite stronghold wrapped in a Sunni explosive belt—not exactly a picture of stability.

From The Daily Beast

Two years ago, lawmakers in this staunch pro-labor stronghold passed anti-union right-to-work laws.

From The Daily Beast

On August 21, rockets struck in the east and west of the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, at the time a rebel stronghold.

From The Daily Beast

In Diyarbakır, a PKK stronghold, protestors defied orders to remain indoors.

From The Daily Beast

During the whole day there was an incessant fusillade, the rebelsʼ chief stronghold being the Recoleto Convent.

From Project Gutenberg

In its best days it combined a military stronghold with the conveniences and artistic effects of a palace.

From Project Gutenberg

Then with myself and a dozen of his best warriors, he turned his face again toward the Jivro stronghold.

From Project Gutenberg

He had the proud feeling of a victorious general who demands the last stronghold to surrender.

From Project Gutenberg

This royal stronghold served as a prison or dungeon, according to popular tradition.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bastion
• fortress
• garrison
• redoubt