fortification

UK: /ˌfɔː^rtɪfɪˈkeɪʃ^ən/

US: /ˌfɔrtəfɪˈkeɪʃən/

US: (fôr′tə fi kā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

for•ti•fi•ca•tion /ˌfɔrtəfɪˈkeɪʃən/   n. 

1. [uncountable] the process or act of fortifying.
2. [countable] something that fortifies or protects.
3. Often, fortifications. [plural] military works constructed in order to defend or strengthen a position.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

for•ti•fi•ca•tion  (fôr′tə fi kā′shən), n. 

1. the act of fortifying or strengthening.
2. something that fortifies or protects.
3. Military the art or science of constructing defensive military works.
4. Military Often, fortifications. military works constructed for the purpose of strengthening a position;
   a fort:
   Supposedly impregnable, the fortifications were quickly overrun.
5. a strengthening or improvement, as by addition of or intensification with another ingredient:
   the fortification of milk with vitamin D; the fortification of wine with alcohol.

• Late Latin fortificātiōn- (stem of fortificātiō), equivalent. to fortificāt(us) fortified (see fortify, -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion
• late Middle English 1400–50

Synonyms

• 4. fortress, citadel, stronghold, bulwark.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fortification / ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun

1. the act, art, or science of fortifying or strengthening
2. a wall, mound, etc, used to fortify a place
3. such works collectively