fortress

noun

for·tress ˈfȯr-trəs

Synonyms of fortress

: a fortified place : stronghold

especially : a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town

fortresslike

ˈfȯr-trəs-līk

adjective

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The terrain is a natural fortress, and bombing is of limited effectiveness. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 There is a micronation on a fortress at sea off the coast of Great Britain, and the British government once considered blowing it up. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026 Start your day with a lakeside walk, then visit Meersburg Castle, the town’s medieval fortress, before heading to the New Castle (Neues Schloss), a Baroque palace perched above the lake, for panoramic views. — Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026 For executives, that fortress includes the systems surrounding their decisions and the biological capacity supporting them. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fortress

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of fortress was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

FORTRAN

fortress

fort royal

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fortress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortress. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fortress

noun

for·tress ˈfȯr-trəs

: a fortified place

fortress

noun

Synonyms of fortress

Examples of fortress in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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