First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
fortify
verb for·ti·fy \ˈfȯr-tə-ˌfī\
: to strengthen (a place) by building military defenses (such as walls, trenches, etc.)
: to make (someone or something) stronger
: to make (yourself) feel stronger or less fearful
for·ti·fiedfor·ti·fy·ing
Full Definition of FORTIFY
transitive verb
: to make strong: as a : to strengthen and secure (as a town) by forts or batteries b : to give physical strength, courage, or endurance to <fortified by a hearty meal> c : to add mental or moral strength to : encourage <fortified by prayer> d : to add material to for strengthening or enriching <fortified milk>
intransitive verb
: to erect fortifications
— for·ti·fi·er \-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun
See fortify defined for English-language learners
See fortify defined for kids
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Origin of FORTIFY
Middle English fortifien, from Anglo-French fortifier, from Late Latin fortificare, from Latin fortis strong
Related to FORTIFY
- Synonyms
- brace, forearm, nerve, poise, psych (up), ready, steel, strengthen
- Antonyms
- debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken
Rhymes with FORTIFY
abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
FORTIFY Defined for Kids
fortify
verb for·ti·fy \ˈfȯr-tə-ˌfī\
for·ti·fiedfor·ti·fy·ing
Definition of FORTIFY for Kids
1
: to make strong <Walls fortified the city against attack.> <Calcium fortifies bones.>
2
: to add material to (something) to strengthen or improve it <The cereal was fortified with vitamins.>
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