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/Democratic 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
The Patriots opened the season with two wins but then sustained two losses, all against strongholds from outside the county.
—Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
In August, Democrat Catelin Drey handily defeated her GOP opponent in the Republican stronghold of northwestern Iowa, giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans' 33.
—CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
The Islamic State West African Province -- an IS affiliate in Nigeria -- has its strongholds in the northeastern part of the country, where it is currently involved in a power struggle with its parent organization, Boko Haram.
—Ope Adetayo, Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
The property was lovingly restored and lived in by the family for decades until 2021, when his son, the architect Count Benedikt Bolza, took over and transformed the ancient stronghold into a luxury boutique hotel.
—Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
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Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
In August, Democrat Catelin Drey handily defeated her GOP opponent in the Republican stronghold of northwestern Iowa, giving Democrats 17 seats to Republicans' 33.
—CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
The Islamic State West African Province -- an IS affiliate in Nigeria -- has its strongholds in the northeastern part of the country, where it is currently involved in a power struggle with its parent organization, Boko Haram.
—Ope Adetayo, Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
The property was lovingly restored and lived in by the family for decades until 2021, when his son, the architect Count Benedikt Bolza, took over and transformed the ancient stronghold into a luxury boutique hotel.
—Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 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 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stronghold
noun
strong·hold
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld
: fortress
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