stronghold

IPA/ˈstrɒŋhəʊld/
KK[strˈɔŋhˌold]IPA/ˈstrɔːŋhəʊld/

stronghold — noun

  • strongholdsingular
  • strongholdsplural

1. a castle, fort, or other structure that is designed so that enemies cannot easil

1.nounB2
Definition

a castle, fort, or other structure that is designed so that enemies cannot easily capture it or break in.

Example

Minho visited an old stronghold near Seoul that still has its original stone walls.

collocation: stronghold near [place]

The castle served as the king's final stronghold during the long siege of 1642.

possessive + final stronghold for last defended position

Common collocations
  • mountain stronghold
  • rebel stronghold
  • enemy stronghold
  • final stronghold
  • hilltop stronghold
Synonyms
  • fortress

    very similar but suggests a large, permanent military structure

  • citadel

    a fortress that protects a city, often on high ground

  • bastion

    a projecting part of a fort, also used figuratively like stronghold

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + stronghold

stronghold + near/in/outside [place]

Usage Note

Often combined with a preceding noun that names the location or type of the stronghold, such as 'mountain stronghold' or 'rebel stronghold'.

Common Mistakes

The army built a stronghold to store food and weapons.
The army built a stronghold to defend the hilltop from enemy attacks.
A stronghold is for defence, not storage.

2. a place, city, or region where a specific idea, political party, or way of life

2.nounB2
Definition

a place, city, or region where a specific idea, political party, or way of life enjoys very strong and lasting support.

Example

The rural county remains a stronghold of the conservative party in every election.

pattern: stronghold of [political party]

Camila turned her small cooking class into a stronghold for traditional recipes disappearing elsewhere.

pattern: stronghold for [activity/tradition]

Common collocations
  • conservative stronghold
  • party stronghold
  • stronghold of democracy
  • stronghold of tradition
  • stronghold of support
Synonyms
  • bastion

    very similar; bastion is slightly more formal and emphatic

  • heartland

    focuses on a geographic region where something is most concentrated

Antonyms
  • battleground

    a place where two opposing sides compete, so neither side has a stronghold

Grammar Patterns

stronghold of [belief/party/activity]

[adjective] stronghold of [noun]

Usage Note

Very common in political and cultural journalism. The preposition 'of' introduces the belief or group (e.g. 'a stronghold of liberalism'). The preposition 'for' introduces the activity (e.g. 'a stronghold for traditional crafts').

Common Mistakes

This restaurant is a stronghold of good pizza.
This university is a stronghold of progressive ideas.
The figurative sense requires a belief, political party, or cultural practice, not a casual statement about food.

Common collocations

Nouns

  • rebel stronghold
  • party stronghold
  • mountain stronghold

Phrases

  • become a stronghold
  • remain a stronghold
  • the last stronghold

Prepositions

  • in a stronghold
  • into a stronghold
  • within a stronghold