verb · neutral

fortify

UK/ˈfɔːtɪfaɪ/US/ˈfɔːrtɪfaɪ/FOR·ti·fy

Band 6-7task2speaking

to make something stronger or to add nutrients to food to improve health

Examples

Many governments fortify staple foods with vitamins to reduce deficiencies.

They fortified the old city walls during the war.

We need to fortify public services before the next crisis.

Band 8 sentence

To reduce future risks, policymakers should fortify healthcare infrastructure and invest in preventive programmes.

Collocations

  • fortify something with (vitamins)
  • fortify defences
  • fortified food

Word family

fortify verbfortification nounfortified adjective

Common mistakes

to fortify withto fortify something with

fortification the foodfortify the food

strengthen the foodfortify the food

Say it for a higher band

5strengthen6reinforce7+fortify

Synonyms

strengthen

reinforce

Easily confused

intensify

The campaign intensified efforts to reach remote communities.

Related words

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In -ify

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