fastness
fast·ness/ˈfæs(t)nəs/noun
fastness is spelled F-A-S-T-N-E-S-S: 8 letters and 2 syllables (fast·ness). It appears about once in every 9 million words in written English, the 89,388th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, fastness means “The quality or state of being strongly attached; firmness, secureness, tenacity” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of fastness is fastnesses.
How many letters and syllables are in fastness?
| Letters | 8: F-A-S-T-N-E-S-S |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: fast·ness |
| In writing | about once in every 9 million words; the 89,388th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is fastness?
Fastness appears about once in every 9 million words in written English, the 89,388th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce fastness?
- UK /ˈfɑːs(t)nəs/
- UK /ˈfæs(t)-/
- US /ˈfæs(t)nəs/
Fastness has 2 syllables, split fast·ness in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-fastness.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of fastness
- fastnesses plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does fastness mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The quality or state of being strongly attached; firmness, secureness, tenacity.
- 2
The ability of a dye to withstand fading.
- 3
The quality or state of moving quickly; quickness, rapidity, swiftness.
- 4
The quality or state of having an extravagant lifestyle or immoral habits.
- 5
archaicOf a fortress or other place: the quality or state of being secure from access or attack; safety, security.
- 6
obsoleteThe quality or state of being firm, hard, or solid; firmness, hardness, solidity.
- 7
A fortified or secure place; a fortress, a stronghold.
- 8
Something used to fasten or tie; a fastener or fastening.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Fastness in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense fortified or secure place – see also fortress, stronghold:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does fastness come from?
From Middle English fastnes, fastnesse (“immovableness, stability; firmness, solidness; secure attachment; constancy; obstinacy; something giving firmness or strength; of sleep: soundness; of a wound: healing; assurance, confirmation”) [and other forms], from Old English fæstnes (“fastness, firmness, stability; resolution; tenacity; vigour; firmament; fortification”) [and other forms], from fæst (“firm, stable; constant”) (from Proto-Germanic *fastuz (“firm, fixed; secure”); see further at that entry) + -nes (suffix forming abstract nouns denoting a quality or state).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).