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

On clear days, that very body of water, and the white mountains beyond it, are part of the panoramic view from the terrace of Boone’s house, a sharp-angled, industrial-gray luxury fortress with towering windows atop a cliff 30 minutes south of Salt Lake City. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025

India have spent the last three weeks in Dubai and made the venue into a fortress. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025

Poor Alec Baldwin, forced to endure life in a mere 6,000-square-foot luxury fortress in one of the most expensive cities on Earth. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025

Nations have long sought ways to protect against attack and invasion, whether that meant fortresses, shore batteries, early warning systems, radar, or massive standing armies and navies. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 6 Feb. 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