fort

noun

ˈfȯrt 

1

: a strong or fortified place

especially : a fortified place occupied only by troops and surrounded with such works as a ditch, rampart, and parapet : fortification

2

: a permanent army post

—often used in place names

Synonyms

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

Examples of fort in a Sentence

They captured the fort after a long battle.

a series of forts along the frontier

Recent Examples on the Web

And so that comes with a lot of trauma, a lot of misunderstanding, a lot of unresolved feelings that men have to carry and still be able to hold the fort down. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025

Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell held down the fort this past season, combining to throw 19 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. —Vincent Frank, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2025

As politely as possible, Bridger suggests Young find another location for a fort of his own. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2025

The wooden fort is long gone, but stone gun mounts and other small vestiges remain on the property along the Thames River, along with a more recent monument. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English forte, from Anglo-French fort, from fort, adjective, strong, from Latin fortis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fort

• hold down the fort
• hold the fort

Kids Definition

fort

noun

ˈfō(ə)rt 

ˈfȯ(ə)rt

1

: a strong or fortified place

2

: a permanent army post