fortification

[ fawr-tuh-fi-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of fortifying or strengthening.
2. something that fortifies or protects.
3. the art or science of constructing defensive military works.
4. Often fortifications. military works constructed for the purpose of strengthening a position; a fort:

   Supposedly impregnable, the fortifications were quickly overrun.

   Synonyms: bulwark, stronghold, citadel, fortress

5. a strengthening or improvement, as by addition of or intensification with another ingredient:

   the fortification of milk with vitamin D; the fortification of wine with alcohol.

fortification

/ ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act, art, or science of fortifying or strengthening
2. 1. a wall, mound, etc, used to fortify a place
   2. such works collectively
3. any place that can be militarily defended

Other Words From

• nonfor·ti·fi·cation noun
• refor·ti·fi·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fortification¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin fortificātiōn- (stem of fortificātiō ), equivalent to fortificāt ( us ) fortified ( fortify, -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The fortification of flour will therefore help boost intake of folic acid across the population, and, indirectly, better protect unborn babies.

From BBC

The government's independent advisory body has looked at all the evidence and is satisfied that fortification is the right course of action for society as a whole.

From BBC

She’s also independent, which means she’s unprotected by the fortification of lawyers and resources erected by the owners of newspapers such as The Times to fend off legal threats, frivolous and otherwise, that are part of the arsenal of people and firms we write about.

From Los Angeles Times

He promised himself a good meal that night, fortification to complete a job only half done.

From BBC

The latest study builds on an earlier one in which Kumar and fellow researchers helped evaluate the results of an iron fortification school lunch program for students ages 7 and 8 in India.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• barricade
• citadel
• fortress
• reinforcement