verb
fortify
FAW-tih-feye
verb
1
To strengthen a place against attack, usually with walls or defenses.
"The town fortified its walls before the invasion."
2
To make someone or something mentally or physically stronger.
"A good breakfast fortified her for the long hike ahead."
3
To add vitamins, minerals, or alcohol to something to increase its strength or nutritional value.
"The bread is fortified with extra folic acid."
How to Use Fortify
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make something stronger, whether it's a wall, a person's resolve, or a food's nutritional content.
Common pairings
fortify against
fortify with vitamins
fortify defenses
Word Forms
fortified past tense, fortify plural, fortified plural, fortifies singular, fortify singular, fortified singular, fortifiest singular, fortifiedst singular, fortifieth singular
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Etymology
From Old French fortifier, from Latin fortis, "strong," plus the causative suffix -ficare.