citadel
noun
cit·a·del
ˈsi-tə-dᵊl 
-ˌdel
1
: a fortress that commands (see command entry 1 sense 2c) a city
2
: stronghold
… the nation's citadel of health research …—
Constance Holden
Constance Holdena citadel of higher education
Examples of citadel in a Sentence
We visited a medieval citadel in Italy.
a massive stone citadel continues to command the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia
Recent Examples on the Web
During the 25 years that consumed the back half of the 1950s and every bit of the 60s and 70s, Orange County shed the last remnants of its agrarian roots to become ground zero for that uniquely American citadel of consumption: The shopping mall.
—Byron De Arakal, Oc Register, 3 May 2026
In 1928, the original owners took over a hotel that was mere feet across one of the narrow cobblestone streets that make up the citadel and added 48, keeping the neo-Gothic style, including pretty leaded windows.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
The opening bash for a new museum is a rare bird: donors can see where their massive checks went, while the public will soon see their tax dollars going to a new cultural citadel.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
Mariners along the Savannah River often navigate via familiar landmarks, such as the iconic Talmadge Bridge, the brick citadels of Fort Pulaski and Old Fort Jackson, the erector-set-like cranes at the Georgia Ports Authority terminals and, of course, the Tybee Island lighthouse.
—Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
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Byron De Arakal, Oc Register, 3 May 2026
In 1928, the original owners took over a hotel that was mere feet across one of the narrow cobblestone streets that make up the citadel and added 48, keeping the neo-Gothic style, including pretty leaded windows.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
The opening bash for a new museum is a rare bird: donors can see where their massive checks went, while the public will soon see their tax dollars going to a new cultural citadel.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
Mariners along the Savannah River often navigate via familiar landmarks, such as the iconic Talmadge Bridge, the brick citadels of Fort Pulaski and Old Fort Jackson, the erector-set-like cranes at the Georgia Ports Authority terminals and, of course, the Tybee Island lighthouse.
—Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for citadel
Cite this Entry
“Citadel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citadel. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
citadel
noun
cit·a·del
ˈsit-əd-ᵊl
-ə-ˌdel
1
: a fortress that sits high above a city
2
: a strong fortress
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