# Alamo

/ˈæɫəmoʊ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alamo
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a place or situation where people fight very hard to defend themselves, even if they know they might lose. It comes from a famous historical battle in Texas where a small group refused to give up.

For teachers: A situation or location representing a final, often desperate stand against overwhelming odds. Used metaphorically as a byword for a definitive struggle or a point of no return.

## Examples

- The small company made its last alamo against the corporate takeover.
- For the aging politician, this local election became a personal alamo to protect his family's legacy.
- The defense attorney viewed the final appeal as a legal alamo, a desperate attempt to overturn a conviction that had seemed inevitable since the trial's inception.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the phrase 'a last alamo' or 'one's alamo'; frequently capitalized when referring to the historical site in San Antonio.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.