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
George Holmes
b
: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
a Republican stronghold
strongholds of snobbery—Lionel Trilling
Lionel TrillingExamples 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
Introduced through mosquitoes that first reached the island in the 1800s, climate change has now ushered these deadly vessels of destruction into the bird’s last stronghold.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
What To Know The Houthis say the U.S. military campaign, aimed at their stronghold in Sana'a and other parts of Yemen, has not deterred their military capacities and attacks.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Since coming together under the coalitions, gangs have proven themselves to be more mobile and more coordinated, carrying out military-style ambushes far away from their strongholds .
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Persecution over the centuries by Muslim empires left much of the population in mountain strongholds in Syria and Lebanon, with smaller populations in Israel and Jordan.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
What To Know The Houthis say the U.S. military campaign, aimed at their stronghold in Sana'a and other parts of Yemen, has not deterred their military capacities and attacks.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
Since coming together under the coalitions, gangs have proven themselves to be more mobile and more coordinated, carrying out military-style ambushes far away from their strongholds .
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Persecution over the centuries by Muslim empires left much of the population in mountain strongholds in Syria and Lebanon, with smaller populations in Israel and Jordan.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Cite this Entry
“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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