# fort

/ˈfɔɹt/ (US) · /fˈɔːt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. military building

noun · CEFR B1

a strong building or wall built to protect a place from attack.

For teachers: a fortified defensive structure designed to withstand attack and typically stationed with troops.

- The soldiers stayed inside the stone fort to defend the harbor.
- The ruins of the coastal fort provided a clear view of the bay, illustrating why the site was strategically vital for centuries.

### 2. army base

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a permanent military station or army base.

For teachers: a permanent army post or military installation, common in American English place names.

- He was sent to Fort Bragg for his basic training.
- The expansion of the local fort brought thousands of new families to the area, stimulating the regional economy through increased demand for housing.

### 3. trading post

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic

a historical place in North America where people met to trade goods.

For teachers: an outlying trading station, particularly in the context of colonial British North America and the fur trade.

- The explorers reached the remote fort to trade furs for supplies.
- Historical records from the fort indicate that the winter of 1784 was particularly harsh, nearly depleting the settlement's grain reserves.

### 4. child's play structure

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a small house or shelter children build out of blankets and chairs.

For teachers: a temporary structure improvised from household items like furniture and bedding for recreational play.

- The kids built a fort in the living room using all the sofa cushions.
- On rainy afternoons, the children would construct elaborate forts in the basement, complete with secret entrances and blanket roofs.

### 5. to build defenses

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to build walls or defenses around a place.

For teachers: to construct fortifications or establish a strong point for defense.

- The settlers worked quickly to fort the camp before nightfall.
- The general ordered his men to fort the ridge, knowing the high ground was their only hope against the advancing cavalry.

## Examples

- The soldiers stayed inside the fort to stay safe.
- The old stone fort on the hill now serves as a museum for tourists visiting the coast.
- Strategically positioned at the mouth of the harbor, the fort provided a clear line of sight for the artillery to defend against any approaching naval fleet.

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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.