stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld 

1

: a fortified place

2

a

: a place of security or survival

one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language

—George Holmes

b

: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic

a Republican stronghold

strongholds of snobbery

—Lionel Trilling

Synonyms

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

Examples of stronghold in a Sentence

The area is a Republican stronghold.

The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold.

the last stronghold of the endangered deer

Recent Examples on the Web

Even before Trump's tariff salvo, European officials had been debating potential imposition of digital services taxes aimed at large U.S. tech firms, many of which are based in or politically aligned with Republican strongholds such as Texas and Florida. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025

However, the company has been strategically expanding beyond its rom-com stronghold. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Apr. 2025

The discovery highlights the region’s strategic military importance during Egypt’s New Kingdom, where fortresses and strongholds were built to defend the eastern borders. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 1 Apr. 2025

The narrowing margins may signal a shift in public sentiment, driven by unusually strong Democratic enthusiasm in a traditionally Republican stronghold. —Kate Payne, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stronghold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld 

: fortress