verb
fortify
FAW-tih-feye
Fortify (verb) means to strengthen a place against attack, usually with walls or defenses. Example: “The town fortified its walls before the invasion.”
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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- fortifies
- Past tense
- fortified
- Archaic forms
- fortifiest, fortifiedst, fortifieth
Etymology
From Old French fortifier, from Latin fortis, "strong," plus the causative suffix -ficare.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fortify
See all rhymes for fortify →Frequently asked questions
What does “fortify” mean?
The word “fortify” means to strengthen a place against attack, usually with walls or defenses. In plain terms, to make something stronger, whether it's a wall, a person's resolve, or a food's nutritional content.
How do you pronounce “fortify”?
“Fortify” is pronounced FAW-tih-feye (/ˈfɔɹtəˌfaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fortify” in a sentence?
Here is “fortify” used in a sentence: “The town fortified its walls before the invasion.”
What part of speech is “fortify”?
“Fortify” is a verb.
Where does the word “fortify” come from?
The word “fortify” comes from Latin. From Old French fortifier, from Latin fortis, "strong," plus the causative suffix -ficare.
How many meanings does “fortify” have?
“Fortify” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to strengthen a place against attack, usually with walls or defenses.
