Basic Details
Word: Fortitude
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Courage and strength of mind shown when facing pain, danger or trouble over a long time.
Synonyms: courage, bravery, resilience, endurance
Antonyms: cowardice, weakness
How to Spell Fortitude
Syllables: for - ti - tude
Tricky part: The middle vowel is i and the ending is -tude, as in attitude. Students often write e in the middle or end with -tute.
Watch out for: fortitute, fortetude, fourtitude
Memory tip: A fort is strong; fortitude is a fort inside you. Write fort + i + tude.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The farmers showed great fortitude after the hailstorm destroyed their wheat.
Example 2: She faced months of treatment in hospital with fortitude and good humour.
Example 3: It takes fortitude to keep practising after many failures.
Fun Fact
Fortitude comes from the Latin fortis, strong. The same root gives fort, fortress and the music term forte, which tells a player to play loudly.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. jewelery 2. fortitude 3. rythm 4. consience
a) courage shown in pain or trouble
b) rings, necklaces and other ornaments
c) a regular, repeated pattern of beats
d) the inner sense of what is right and wrong
Show answer
a) courage shown in pain or trouble. Jewellery needs a second l, rhythm an h after the r, and conscience hides the word science.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of 'fortitude' as it is used in the sentence:
The flood victims faced the loss of their homes with remarkable fortitude.
a) sorrow
b) courage
c) anger
d) cowardice
Show answer
b) courage. Facing a loss with fortitude means facing it bravely, so courage is the match.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
fortittude
a) t
b) o
c) u
d) i
Show answer
a) t. Only one t is needed between i and u: for-ti-tude.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which person shows fortitude?
a) a boy who gives up after one failed try
b) a man who runs away at the first sign of danger
c) a patient who stays calm through painful treatment
d) a girl who skips practice when it rains
Show answer
c) a patient who stays calm through painful treatment
2. Fortitude is a quality of the ____.
a) soil and rocks
b) weather and seasons
c) teeth and bones
d) mind and spirit
Show answer
d) mind and spirit
