fortify

UK: /ˈfɔː^rtɪfaɪ/ US: /ˈfɔrtəˌfaɪ/ ,(fôr′tə fī′)

Inflections of 'fortify' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

fortifies

v 3rd person singular

fortifying

v pres p

fortified

v past

fortified

v past p

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

for•ti•fy /ˈfɔrtəˌfaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. Military to increase the defenses of:
   They went about fortifying the besieged town.
2. to impart strength or vigor to:
   had fortified myself with a good breakfast.
3. to increase the effectiveness of, such as by additional ingredients:
   to fortify a diet with vitamins.
4. to strengthen mentally or morally:
   fortified by faith.

See -fort-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

for•ti•fy  (fôr′tə fī′), v., -fied, -fy•ing. 
v.t. 

1. Military to protect or strengthen against attack;
   surround or provide with defensive military works.
2. to furnish with a means of resisting force or standing strain or wear:
   to fortify cotton with nylon.
3. to make strong;
   impart strength or vigor to:
   to fortify oneself with a good breakfast.
4. to increase the effectiveness of, as by additional ingredients:
   to fortify a diet with vitamins; to fortify a lotion with lanolin.
5. to strengthen mentally or morally:
   to be fortified by religious faith.
6. to confirm or corroborate:
   to fortify an accusation with facts.
7. Nutrition to add one or more ingredients to (a food) to increase its nutritional content.
8. Wine to add alcohol to (wine or the like).

v.i. 

9. to set up defensive works;
   erect fortifications.

• Late Latin fortificāre, equivalent. to Latin forti(s) strong + -ficāre -fy
• Middle French fortifier
• late Middle English fortifien 1400–50

for′ti•fi′a•ble, adj. 
for′ti•fi′er, n. 
for′ti•fy′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 3. strengthen, reinforce.
• 5. hearten, embolden.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fortify / ˈfɔːtɪˌfaɪ/ verb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)(mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to make (a place) defensible, as by building walls, digging trenches, etc
2. to strengthen physically, mentally, or morally
3. to add spirits or alcohol to (wine), in order to produce sherry, port, etc
4. to increase the nutritious value of (a food), as by adding vitamins and minerals
5. to support or confirm: to fortify an argument with facts

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French fortifier, from Late Latin fortificāre, from Latin fortis strong + facere to make

ˈfortiˌfiable adjective

ˈfortiˌfier noun