stronghold

/ˈstrɔŋˌhoʊld/
noun
  1. A place that is strongly defended or protected, like a fortress or castle.
    • Soldiers retreated to the stronghold to prepare for the attack.
    • The rebels used the mountain stronghold as their base.
    • The ancient stronghold stood on top of the hill for centuries.
  2. A place or area where a particular belief, activity, or group is especially strong or dominant.
    • The university became a stronghold of scientific research.
    • That town is a stronghold of conservative politics.
    • The region is a stronghold for the endangered bird species.
What does "stronghold" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean