Meaning of fortify in English

fortify

verb [ T ]

/ˈfɔː.tɪ.faɪ/ us

/ˈfɔːr.t̬ə.faɪ/

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to make a place stronger against attack, for example with high, strong walls:

The militants were able to regroup and fortify their stronghold.

This ruined hilltop castle was fortified by every ruler from Roman times to the 17th century.

fortify something with something They hurriedly fortified the village with barricades of carts.

to make something such as a system or an organization stronger so it is protected against failure:

He acknowledged the need for legislation to help fortify the system against fraud.

If you are worried about democracy and the rule of law, there are ways to fortify it.

to add vitamins or other substances to food to make it better for your health:

New studies had looked at the possibility of fortifying orange juice and bread.

Biotechnology researchers say genetic engineering is the only practical way to fortify the rice.

fortified with a fruit drink fortified with vitamin C

to make a person feel physically or mentally stronger than before:

There's nothing better than soup to fortify you for the northern winter.

fortify yourself with something He fortified himself with a drink and a sandwich before driving on.

The argument had fortified her resolve to prove she was right.

to make an alcoholic drink stronger by adding more alcohol to it:

The wine is fortified by the addition of neutral grape brandy, killing the yeasts and preventing further fermentation.

Toxic substances are sometimes used to fortify illicit spirits.

Related word

fortified

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Fortifications

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Becoming and making stronger

Additives in food & drinks

Wines & winemaking

(Definition of fortify from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

fortify | American Dictionary

fortify

verb [ T ]

/ˈfɔr·t̬əˌfɑɪ/

Add to word list Add to word list

to strengthen something, esp. in order to protect it:

Property owners have to fortify their oceanfront homes against weather damage.

These reforms are aimed at fortifying the political system.

(Definition of fortify from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of fortify

fortify

It is now part of the international political landscape, fortified by other courts and a galaxy of non-governmental organizations and transnational alliances.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

At this time, however, the government concentrated on fortifying relatively few but central places, especially at the frontiers and the most important ferry stations.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Unlike floods, typhoons, or some manner of epidemics, populations cannot be publicly marshaled to 'resist' or 'fortify themselves' against the coming disaster.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The ancient states pushed outward into these regions in order to fortify themselves against their rivals, and the unified empires continued the process.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Today there is greater reluctance to use labour law to fortify collective industrial relations institutions.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Similar considerations apply also to fortified sites, rich burials, and hoard-deposition sites.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Professional groups organise themselves, and the divisions between them get fortified.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Throughout the post-war period, they fortified the philosophical and ideological lifeblood of a movement which had gone on the defensive worldwide.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

At the same time, the existence of a strong aristocracy also fortified the government, thus preserving the state from degenerating into anarchy and despotism.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

It also explains why it has ' sustained popular support, cemented unity, fortified collective resolve and rallied flagging commitment over the years '.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

This, combined with an ethical distaste for genetics, fortified a science of development that riveted its attention on the social environment.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

A party that foresees its displacement has incentives to fortify countervailing power centres, including the judiciary.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

To my gratification he acknowledged that this might be a case where a judiciously selected exception could fortify the general rule against neologisms.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

When spouses are able to maintain their overall quality of life, they are fortified to continue to provide care to the patient.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

From 1950 to 1975, policymakers gradually fortified existing policies by making benefits both more generous and more inclusive.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of fortify?

Translations of fortify

in Chinese (Traditional)

（尤指為防禦而）加強，增強…

Meaning of fortify in English

fortify | American Dictionary

Examples of fortify

Translations of fortify

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