Definition of FORTITUDE (original) (raw)
1
: strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage
Did you know?
Fortitude comes from the Latin word fortis, meaning “strong,” and in English it has always been used primarily to describe strength of mind. For a time, the word was also used to mean “physical strength”; William Shakespeare used it that way in Henry VI, Part 1: “Coward of France! How much he wrongs his fame / Despairing of his own arm's fortitude.” But despite use by the Bard of Avon, that meaning languished and is now considered obsolete. Even the familiar phrase “intestinal fortitude” is just a humorous way to refer to someone’s courage or mental stamina, not the literal strength of their digestive system. (If you’re looking to describe such a gastrointestinal tract, we might suggest “iron stomach.”)
Synonyms
Examples of fortitude in a Sentence
… everyone in the family was succored by Elizabeth's fortitude and steadfastness. —
Nicholas Fox Weber, The Clarks Of Cooperstown, 2007 But now Frum, by having the fortitude to revisit that bizarre era, has half-persuaded me that the '70s, a partial negation of the '60s, in one way, were a partial confirmation of them in another. —Christopher Hitchens, Civilization, April/May 2000 He learned that war was a hurly-burly of violence in which men prevailed through imagination and the fortitude to struggle on despite reverses. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
She has endured disappointments with fortitude and patience. it was only with the greatest fortitude that the Pilgrims were able to survive their first winter in Plymouth
Recent Examples on the Web But many people don’t have the fortitude and don’t have the commitment to do that, and my intuition turned out to be correct in that Remo’s commitment to supporting solving difficult problems was extraordinary. —Luisa Zargani, WWD, 24 Sep. 2024 Executive Resilience: Beyond Personal Grit While personal resilience is important, executive resilience transcends individual fortitude. —Katie Britton, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024 What fortitude may be gathered from a feeling unfelt in its own time? —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024 But a rigid approach to problem-solving fuels frustration, not fortitude. —Scott Mautz, Contributor, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fortitude 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fortitude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin fortitudin-, fortitudo, from fortis — see fortify
First Known Use
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of fortitude was in the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near fortitude
Cite this Entry
“Fortitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortitude. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
Share
More from Merriam-Webster on fortitude
Last Updated: 30 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!