Bunker vs. Fort — What's the Difference?

A sand trap in golf, not related to military use.

Used metaphorically to describe a strong, secure place.

An underground shelter built to protect against bombs or attacks.

A fortified building or set of buildings used for defense in military operations.

A safe room in civilian settings.

A children’s play structure resembling a military fort.

A storage place for hazardous materials.

Historical fortifications used in colonial wars.

A bunker is a defensive military fortification designed to protect people and valued materials from falling bombs or other attacks. Bunkers are mostly underground, in contrast to blockhouses which are mostly above ground.

A fortified place or position for the stationing of troops.

A bin or tank especially for fuel storage, as on a ship.

A permanent army post.

Often bunkers Fuel, such as coal or fuel oil, used especially in ships.

A fortified defensive structure stationed with troops.

(Sports) See sand trap.

Any permanent army post.

To store or place (fuel) in a bunker.

(historical) An outlying trading-station, as in British North America.

(Sports) To hit (a golf ball) into a sand trap.

A structure improvised from furniture, bedding, etc., for playing games.

(military) A hardened shelter, often partly buried or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks.

To create a fort, fortifications, a strong point, or a redoubt.

(nautical) A container for storing coal or fuel oil for a ship's engine; (by extension) the quantity of fuel needed to replenish that container.

A strong or fortified place; usually, a small fortified place, occupied only by troops, surrounded with a ditch, rampart, and parapet, or with palisades, stockades, or other means of defense; a fortification.

(rail transport) The coal compartment on a tank engine.

A fortified military post where troops are stationed

(sports)

A fortified defensive structure

(golf) A hazard on a golf course consisting of a sand-filled hollow.

Gather in, or as if in, a fort, as for protection or defense

(paintball) An obstacle used to block an opposing player's view and field of fire.

Enclose by or as if by a fortification

A large bin or container for storing coal, often built outdoors in the yard of a house.

Station (troops) in a fort

(Scotland)

A sort of box or chest, as in a window, the lid of which serves as a seat.

(slang) A kitchen worktop.

One who bunks off; a truant from school.

The menhaden, any of several species of fish in the genera Brevoortia and Ethmidium.

(nautical)

(transitive) To load (a vessel) with coal or fuel oil for the engine.

To take a load of coal or fuel oil for its engine.

To steal bunker fuel by illicitly siphoning it off.

To hit (a golf ball) into a bunker; to place (a golfer) in the position of having a golf ball in a bunker.

To place (someone) in a position that is difficult to get out of; to hinder.

To fire constantly at (an opponent hiding behind an obstacle), trapping them and preventing them from firing at other players; also, to eliminate (an opponent behind an obstacle) by rushing to the position and firing at extremely close range as the player becomes exposed.

(intransitive) Often followed by down: to take shelter in a bunker or other place.

A sort of chest or box, as in a window, the lid of which serves for a seat.

A large bin or similar receptacle; as, a coal bunker.

A small sand hole or pit, as on a golf course.

Hence, any rough hazardous ground on the links; also, an artificial hazard with built-up faces.

A fortified position dug into the ground, especially one which is closed on top and has protective walls and roof, e. g. of reinforced concrete. For defending positions it usually has windows to view the surrounding terrain, but as a safe location for planning operations or storage, a bunker may be completely underground with no direct access to the surface.

To drive (the ball) into a bunker.

A hazard on a golf course

A fortification of earth; mostly or entirely below ground

Hit a golf ball into a bunker

Fill (a ship's bunker) with coal or oil

Transfer cargo from a ship to a warehouse

Typically durable materials like stone, wood, or earthworks.

Yes, they are used as military bases, historical sites, and sometimes as tourist attractions.

Yes, they can be used as shelters during natural disasters or for storing hazardous materials.

Many forts are significant in history for their roles in wars and conflicts across different eras.

Some bunkers can be partially above ground but are typically heavily fortified.

To provide protection against attacks, particularly aerial or explosive.

Forts are typically above ground and visible, while bunkers are usually underground and concealed.

They often build play forts to emulate military forts, using them as places for games and imagination.

They provide a secure location to safeguard personnel and equipment during conflicts.

Many are converted into museums, cultural sites, or venues for special events.