# fortify

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈfɔːtɪfaɪ/ · frequency rank #32,810

## Definitions
1. To give power, strength, or vigour to (oneself or someone, or to something); to strengthen.
2. To support (one's or someone's opinion, statement, etc.) by producing evidence, etc.; to confirm, to corroborate.
3. To increase the nutritional value of (food) by adding ingredients, especially minerals or vitamins.
4. To impart fortitude or moral strength to (someone or their determination, or something); to encourage.
5. To make (something) defensible against attack by hostile forces.
6. To make (something) structurally strong; to strengthen.
7. To increase the defences of (an army, soldiers, etc.), or put (it or them) in a defensive position.
8. To secure and strengthen (a place, its walls, etc.) by installing fortifications or other military works.
9. To provide (a city, a fortress, an army, etc.) with equipment or soldiers.
10. To add spirits to (wine) to increase the alcohol content.
11. To install fortifications or other military works; also (sometimes figurative), to put up a defensive position.
12. To become strong; to strengthen.
13. To undergo, or cause to undergo, fortition.

## Etymology
From Late Middle English fortifien, fortfien (“to strengthen (a castle, etc.) from attack; to strengthen (an army, etc.); to strengthen (a person), aid, support; to reinforce, support; to improve; to increase the efficacy of”), from Old French fortifier (modern French fortifier), from Late Latin fortificāre (“to strengthen, fortify”), from Latin fortis (“powerful, strong”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to ascend, rise up; to be elevated or up high”) or *dʰerǵʰ- (“to be firm; robust, strong”)) + -ficō (suffix forming causative or factitive, or other verbs).

## Easily confused with
- **forty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fortify-vs-forty)
- **forties** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/forties-vs-fortify)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ffortify`, `foritfy`, `forrtify`, `fortfiy`, `fortiffy`, `fortifyy`, `fortiyf`, `forttify`, `fotrify`, `frotify`, `ofrtify`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/fortify