fortification
UK: ˌfɔːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən | US: ˌfɔːrtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən
n. 1. The act or process of strengthening a place with defensive structures (e.g., walls, trenches).
n. 2. A structure (e.g., a fortress or wall) built to defend against attack.
n. 3. The reinforcement or enhancement of something (e.g., arguments, immunity).
fortification = fort<strong> + ify<make> + cation<noun suffix>
- fort (from Latin fortis, meaning "strong")
- ify (a verb-forming suffix from Latin -ficare, meaning "to make")
- cation (a noun-forming suffix from Latin -catio, indicating an action or process)
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin fortificare ("to strengthen"), combining fortis (strong) and -ficare (to make). It entered Middle English via Old French fortification, retaining its core meaning of "strengthening defenses." The morphemes reflect a logical progression: "make strong" → "act of making strong" → "defensive structures."
The ancient city was surrounded by massive stone fortifications.
Vitamin C plays a key role in the fortification of the immune system.
The general ordered the fortification of the border ahead of the invasion.
Critics questioned the fortification of the government's argument with outdated data.
Medieval castles often featured elaborate fortifications like moats and battlements.