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

The Gothic fortress on West 23rd Street was once home to many of the twentieth century’s beautiful and damned—Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin, and Sid Vicious among them. —Ian Malone, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025

But storybook fortresses aren’t exclusive to mythical kingdoms and romantic tales. —Gulnaz Khan, AFAR Media, 13 Feb. 2025

There, guests can check out fortress ruins and visit the Basilica of Esztergom. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2025

One of the most prominent rumors surrounding the over 575-year-old fortress has long been the existence of secret passageways beneath the grounds originally hinted at by Leonardo da Vinci. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 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