stronghold
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a building or place that is built to be very strong so that it can be defended against an enemy.
a fortified location or structure designed to withstand military attack or siege.
Simple“The ancient stronghold stood on top of the hill, overlooking the valley below.”
In context“The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold, a natural fortress that had proven impenetrable to heavy artillery for decades.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a place where a particular group of people or a specific set of ideas is very popular and powerful.
a geographic area or social sphere where a particular belief, political party, or group remains dominant or influential.
Simple“This city has always been a stronghold for the Green Party.”
In context“Despite the national shift in public opinion, the rural province remained a traditionalist stronghold where old customs were fiercely preserved.”
“It has long been a Republican stronghold and many voters there say they still plan to support the Republican Party, despite concerns about the economy and promises of no more wars.”
From Middle English stranghalde, strong-hold, strong-holde, from strong (“having physical strength, sturdy, strong; built to withstand assaults, fortified”) (from Old English strang, strong (“strong”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *strengʰ- (“stiff, tight”)) + hōld (“grasp, grip; control, possession, rule”) (from Old English). By surface analysis, strong + hold.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.