# fortitude

/ˈfɔɹtɪˌtud/ (US) · /fˈɔːtɪtjˌuːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fortitude
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. mental strength

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the mental strength that helps you deal with pain or difficult situations without complaining.

For teachers: mental and emotional resilience that allows one to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.

- She showed great fortitude throughout her long illness, never losing her positive spirit.
- The refugees demonstrated remarkable moral fortitude as they navigated the bureaucratic hurdles of the resettlement process while grieving their lost homes.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the abstract quality of character.

### 2. physical strength

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old-fashioned way to describe having a strong, powerful body.

For teachers: physical strength or power. This sense is largely obsolete in modern prose, having been supplanted by the psychological sense.

- The old stories praised the knight for his physical fortitude in battle.
- In the archaic text, the hero was described as possessing the fortitude of a giant, capable of lifting stones that three men could not budge.

Teaching tip: Modern speakers almost exclusively use fortitude to mean mental strength; using it for physical muscle will sound very old-fashioned.

## Examples

- She showed great fortitude during her long illness.
- The soldiers faced the harsh winter with remarkable fortitude, never losing their sense of discipline despite the lack of supplies.
- Historical accounts of the siege often highlight the moral fortitude of the civilian population, whose refusal to surrender under extreme duress eventually turned the tide of the conflict.

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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.