fortification

Etymology

From Middle French fortification, from Latin fortificātiō.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

fortification (countable and uncountable, plural fortifications)

1. The act of fortifying; the art or science of fortifying places to strengthen defence against an enemy.
2. That which fortifies; especially, a work or works erected to defend a place against attack; a fortified place; a fortress; a fort; a castle.
   • 1915, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price, chapterI:

     “[…] We are engaged in a great work, a treatise on our river fortifications, perhaps? But since when did army officers afford the luxury of amanuenses in this simple republic? […] ”

3. An increase in effectiveness, as by adding ingredients.
   • 1979, Kiplinger's Personal Finance (volume 33, number 7, July 1979, page 47)

     Compare the nutrition information label of a regular ready-to-eat fortified cereal with that of a presweetened brand and you'll note that, although the sweetened one's sugar content is higher, the fortification is virtually identical.

Etymology

From Latin fortificātiō.

Noun

fortification f (plural fortifications)

1. fortification (all meanings)

Further reading

• “fortification” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).