fortress

noun

for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs How to pronounce fortress (audio)
Synonyms of fortressnext
: a fortified place : stronghold
especially : a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town
fortresslike 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.
Turn Old Trafford into a fortress again. The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026 Companies are creating cash cushions — also known as fortress balance sheets — to protect themselves from a possible downturn. Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026 Once again, no criminal has tried to enter my fortress. Meghana Indurti, New Yorker, 1 Jan. 2026 Eventually, the fortress will be reconfigured into an OMNY facility, just as MetroCard vending machines in subway stations have been replaced by OMNY vending machines. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fortress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortress. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

fortress

noun
for·​tress ˈfȯr-trəs How to pronounce fortress (audio)
: a fortified place

More from Merriam-Webster on fortress

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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