- strength and firmness of mind; resolute endurance
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
for•ti•tude /ˈfɔrtɪˌtud, -ˌtyud/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty and danger courageously:It took fortitude to live on the frontier.
for•ti•tude
(fôr′ti to̅o̅d′, -tyo̅o̅d′),USA pronunciation n.
- mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously:Never once did her fortitude waver during that long illness.
- Latin fortitūdō strength, firmness, courage, equivalent. to forti(s) strong + -tūdō -tude
- Middle English 1350–1400
- See patience.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
fortitude /ˈfɔːtɪˌtjuːd/ n
'fortitude' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
cardinal virtues
- hero
- take
- virtue
- backbone
- brave
- cardinal virtue
- fortitudinous
- grit
- gut
- gutless
- hardihood
- heroism
- intestinal fortitude
- manlike
- manly
- mettle
- natural virtue
- nerve
- patience
- patient
- resolution
- unman
- weakhearted
- yellowbelly
- stoical