fortress
noun
for·tress ˈfȯr-trəs 
: a fortified place : stronghold
especially : a large and permanent fortification sometimes including a town
fortresslike
ˈfȯr-trəs-līk
adjective 
Synonyms
- bastion
- castle
- citadel
- fastness
- fort
- fortification
- hold
- redoubt
- stronghold
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the boys built a snow fortress and then challenged the neighborhood kids to an in-your-face snowball fight
Recent Examples on the Web The main highlights here include the town's mosaic-covered duomo, Cathedral of Civita Castellana, as well as its majestic ancient fortress. 
Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 The dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham plans to rally his troops in his fortress, protected by a large moat with only a single drawbridge. Richard Malena, Popular Mechanics, 21 July 2022 Regular summer ferries run to the old Vaxholm fortress, built to protect the Swedish capital from invasion. David Nikel, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022 The digital repository — to be housed at the National Library of Medicine, a Cold War-era fortress appropriately built for fearful times — holds 30 million documents from 9,000 sources, with links to similar troves from Beijing to Paris. Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2021 The site of Solomon’s coronation ceremony, the Spring Citadel, is an enormous 3,800-year-old Canaanite fortress revealed in 2014, after 15 years of excavation. Marion Fischel, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 The medieval structure is surrounded by a stone fortress and sprinkled with giant boulders, as is the rest of the village. Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 28 Aug. 2022 Two months ago, most Democrats were locked in a fortress of gloom. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 12 Aug. 2022 When a wealthy family’s fortress becomes disarmed during the annual Purge, all hell breaks loose. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 19 Aug. 2022 See More
Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 The dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham plans to rally his troops in his fortress, protected by a large moat with only a single drawbridge. Richard Malena, Popular Mechanics, 21 July 2022 Regular summer ferries run to the old Vaxholm fortress, built to protect the Swedish capital from invasion. David Nikel, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022 The digital repository — to be housed at the National Library of Medicine, a Cold War-era fortress appropriately built for fearful times — holds 30 million documents from 9,000 sources, with links to similar troves from Beijing to Paris. Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2021 The site of Solomon’s coronation ceremony, the Spring Citadel, is an enormous 3,800-year-old Canaanite fortress revealed in 2014, after 15 years of excavation. Marion Fischel, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 The medieval structure is surrounded by a stone fortress and sprinkled with giant boulders, as is the rest of the village. Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 28 Aug. 2022 Two months ago, most Democrats were locked in a fortress of gloom. Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 12 Aug. 2022 When a wealthy family’s fortress becomes disarmed during the annual Purge, all hell breaks loose. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 19 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
fortress
noun
for·tress ˈfȯr-trəs
: a place that is protected against attack
fortresses
noun
as in strongholds
a structure or place from which one can resist attack the boys built a snow fortress and then challenged the neighborhood kids to an in-your-face snowball fight Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- strongholds
- fortifications
- citadels
- bastions
- castles
- forts
- ramparts
- parapets
- redoubts
- bunkers
- battlements
- earthworks
- breastworks
- bulwarks
- blockhouses
- holds
- embattlements
- dugouts
- kasbahs
- garrison houses
- casbahs
- alcazars