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

• fortress
• stronghold
• fortification
• citadel
• castle
• bastion

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

Mike and Dave, Sweet Tooth (who immediately decides to build a pillow fort) and Stu, Vermin and Axel, Chuckie Floop and Raven, and John and Quiet. —Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025

Set up some forts for a play day inside, get out some coloring books, brainstorm with your kid about other fun, safe, and not-too-messy indoor activities. —Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Sean Duffy, Trump's transportation secretary, was appointed to hold up the fort as NASA's interim administrator just this month. —Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 25 July 2025

Sun loungers are also lined up under the artificial fort at the heart of the park and a new restaurant has indoor seating. —Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 25 July 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

Rhymes for fort

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• port
• porte
• quart
• short
• snort

Kids Definition

fort

noun

ˈfō(ə)rt 

ˈfȯ(ə)rt

1

: a strong or fortified place

2

: a permanent army post