strongbox: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, semi-formal, technical.
Quick answer
What does “strongbox” mean?
A heavily constructed box or safe, typically made of metal, designed to protect valuables such as money, jewellery, or documents from theft or damage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heavily constructed box or safe, typically made of metal, designed to protect valuables such as money, jewellery, or documents from theft or damage.
Any robust, secure container designed to protect contents. Can be used metaphorically to refer to a secure, enclosed space or system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is understood and used in both varieties with no significant lexical or semantic difference. The concept is identical.
Connotations
Associated with security, privacy, and tangible wealth. May have slightly old-fashioned or traditional connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar, relatively low frequency in both. 'Safe' is a more common, everyday synonym in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “strongbox” in a Sentence
keep [valuables] in a strongboxstore [items] in a strongboxlock/unlock the strongboxsecure the strongboxthe strongbox contains [items]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to refer to a secure container for cash, important contracts, or data backups on physical media.
Academic
Rare. May appear in historical texts or discussions of security.
Everyday
Used for home security, e.g., storing passports, heirlooms, or emergency cash.
Technical
Used in security, banking, and safe manufacturing industries to denote a specific class of container meeting resistance standards.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strongbox”
- Spelling as one word 'strongbox' is correct (not 'strong box', though historically two words). Using it to describe a digitally secure system is a metaphor, not the core meaning.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A strongbox is typically a smaller, box-shaped container, often portable, while a 'safe' is a broader term that can include larger, heavy cabinets or vaults built into walls. All strongboxes are safes, but not all safes are strongboxes.
It can have a slightly traditional connotation but remains in current use, especially in specific contexts like security, banking, and historical descriptions. 'Safe' is more neutral and common in everyday speech.
Yes, but it's a metaphor. You might hear "The encrypted server acts as a digital strongbox for the data," extending the core idea of a secure container into a non-physical realm.
A safety deposit box is a specific type of strongbox (a small, secure container) that is housed within the larger vault of a bank and rented to customers for storing valuables.
A heavily constructed box or safe, typically made of metal, designed to protect valuables such as money, jewellery, or documents from theft or damage.
Strongbox is usually formal, semi-formal, technical. in register.
Strongbox: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstrɒŋbɒks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstrɔːŋbɑːks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) safe as in a strongbox (variation of 'as safe as houses')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A BOX that is very STRONG. Visualise a heavy, metal box with a thick lock that would be very difficult to break open.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECURITY IS STRENGTH; VALUABLES ARE PRISONERS (securely held).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be found in a strongbox?