fort

UK: /ˈfɔː^rt/ US: /fɔrt/ ,(fôrt, fōrt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fort /fɔrt/   n. [countable]

1. a location occupied by troops and surrounded by defensive works.
2. Military any permanent army post.

Idioms

3. Idioms hold the fort:
   • to defend one's position against attack or criticism:
     held the fort against the attacks of the enemy.
   • to maintain the existing state of affairs:
     Hold the fort until we get back from lunch.

See -fort-.
-fort-, root. 

1. -fort- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "strong;
   strength.'' This meaning is found in such words as: comfort, discomfort, effort, fort, forte, fortify, fortitude, fortress, uncomfortable.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fort  (fôrt, fōrt), n. 

1. a strong or fortified place occupied by troops and usually surrounded by walls, ditches, and other defensive works;
   a fortress;
   fortification.
2. Military any permanent army post.
3. (formerly) a trading post.
4. Idioms hold the fort:
   • to defend one's position against attack or criticism.
   • to maintain the existing state of affairs.

• Latin fortis
• Middle French, noun, nominal use of adjective, adjectival fort strong
• 1550–60

fort., 

1. fortification.
2. fortified.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fort / fɔːt/ noun

1. a fortified enclosure, building, or position able to be defended against an enemy
2. hold the fort ⇒ to maintain or guard something temporarily

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French, from fort (adj) strong, from Latin fortis