Meaning & use
military fortitude
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Meanings
noununcountableformal
the mental and emotional strength that helps soldiers face danger, hardship, or fear without giving up
Grammar: Uncountable: say 'great military fortitude', not 'a military fortitude' or 'military fortitudes'.
Patterns
- show military fortitude
- display military fortitude
- with military fortitude
The exhausted troops showed remarkable military fortitude during the long retreat.
Her memoir describes the military fortitude required to survive years of combat.
He was praised for his military fortitude in the face of constant danger.
noununcountableformalmilitary
the ability of a military unit or leader to remain steady and determined when plans fail or losses mount
Grammar: Also uncountable and usually used with verbs like 'require' or 'demonstrate'.
Patterns
- require military fortitude
- demonstrate military fortitude
- a test of military fortitude
The siege was a test of military fortitude for every officer and soldier.
Commanders need military fortitude to make hard decisions after a defeat.
The unit's military fortitude kept it together despite heavy casualties.
Common combinations
- show military fortitude
- The young lieutenant showed military fortitude when his squad was cut off.
- remarkable military fortitude
- The veterans spoke of the remarkable military fortitude of their comrades.
- a test of military fortitude
- The winter campaign was a severe test of military fortitude.
- require military fortitude
- Leading a platoon in combat requires military fortitude as well as skill.
Synonyms and how they differ
- courage
- Courage is the general word for bravery; military fortitude adds the idea of enduring long hardship, not just a single brave act.
- resilience
- Resilience emphasizes recovering quickly from setbacks; military fortitude emphasizes staying steady while danger continues.
- endurance
- Endurance is about lasting a long time physically or mentally; military fortitude is specifically about soldiers facing fear and danger.
Opposites
Word family
- fortitude noun
- the general quality of courage and strength in the face of pain or trouble
- military adjective
- relating to soldiers, armed forces, or war
Commonly confused: military fortitude or military aptitude?
military fortitude vs military aptitude
Aptitude means natural ability or skill, while fortitude means inner strength and courage; a soldier can have one without the other.
Practice
The rescue mission was a real test of the soldiers' ______ as they waited for days under enemy fire.
Choose one answer.
'Military fortitude' means the courage and endurance to keep going under fire, which fits the idea of waiting under danger. 'Military uniform' and 'military rank' are physical or official things and do not describe inner strength.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “military fortitude”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.