ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fortifications

n. plural-only
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌfɔɹtəfəˈkeɪʃənz// UK //fˌɔːtɪfɪkˈeɪʃənz// for·ti·fi·ca·tions

n. strong walls, towers, or buildings made to protect a place from an attack. You usually see these around old cities or military bases.

n. defensive structures, such as walls, embankments, or towers, erected to strengthen a location against military attack.


SIMPLE

The ancient city is still surrounded by stone fortifications.

CONTEXTUAL

Engineers spent months building heavy fortifications along the border to prevent a ground invasion.

COMPLEX

The coastal fortifications, though now weathered by centuries of salt air, remain a testament to the strategic importance of the harbor during the Napoleonic Wars.

Synonyms
Usage

Usually appears in the plural form when referring to a set of defensive works; takes a plural verb.

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