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

• stronghold
• citadel
• fortification
• castle
• bastion
• fort

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

In real life, the high-tech Utah fortress from the streaming film Mountainhead is available as a $60,000-a-night rental in Utah, and Yellowstone’s iconic Montana ranch lets guests live out their Western drama fantasies. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2025

The new Carnage maze coming to Magic Mountain this Halloween season will take visitors inside a fortress ruled by a villainous clown named Carnage. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025

The latest shooting at a US military fortress long accustomed to guarding against external threats demonstrates that no amount of physical security can totally protect soldiers when the threat comes from within, according to experts. —Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025

State enterprises Complejo de Museos Históricos Militares, (Military History Museum Complex), an enterprise that manages the Museum of the Revolution, the Morro Castle and the Cabaña fortress in Havana. —Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 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