fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs 

: a fortified place : stronghold

especially : a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town

fortresslike

ˈfȯr-trəs-līk 

adjective

Synonyms

• bastion
• castle
• citadel
• fastness
• fort
• fortification
• hold
• redoubt
• stronghold

Examples of fortress in a Sentence

the boys built a snow fortress and then challenged the neighborhood kids to an in-your-face snowball fight

Recent Examples on the Web

Colorful Old San Juan is home to the 16th-century Spanish colonial fortress Castillo San Cristobal and other UNESCO World Heritage sites, and fantastic restaurants like Santaella or La Casita Blanca, where the tostones and mofongo are not to be missed. —Mariette Williams, AFAR Media, 23 Jan. 2025

The Skyscrapers of Medieval Italy (Ex Urbe) by Ada Palmer In medieval Italy, factional wars led powerful families to build huge towers that served as little urban fortresses. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 21 Jan. 2025

Snaking through 10 countries and four capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade) before emptying into the Black Sea—the Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, gliding past lush vineyards, medieval fortresses, and fairytale castles that have stood the test of time. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025

Walk in around the massive fortress with its cannons and tunnels. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English forteresse, from Anglo-French fortelesce, forteresse, from Medieval Latin fortalitia, from Latin fortis strong

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs 

: a fortified place