citadel

noun

cit·​a·​del ˈsi-tə-dᵊl How to pronounce citadel (audio)
-ˌdel
1
: a fortress that commands (see command entry 1 sense 2c) a city
2
: stronghold
the nation's citadel of health researchConstance Holden
a 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 15th-century Inca citadel may be a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a modern wonder of the world, visited by more than 1.4 million people last year, but there are many ways to experience it. Forbes Staff, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 Named after its placement on the citadel mound of Kuyunjik, the North Palace is thought to have been completed around 643 BCE—and then burnt down not long after, in 612 BCE, when Nineveh was sacked by the Babylonians. Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 Other finds included structures related to an 18th century citadel and various 19th and early 20th century structures linked to the Old Fish Market. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025 The robots are planning to do reparations, Sasha 55 has a citadel named in her honor, and everyone (even Manny!) sends Belinda off as the queen of Earth. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for citadel

Word History

Etymology

Middle French citadelle, from Old Italian cittadella, diminutive of cittade city, from Medieval Latin civitat-, civitas — more at city

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of citadel was in 1542

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Citadel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citadel. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

citadel

noun
cit·​a·​del ˈsit-əd-ᵊl How to pronounce citadel (audio)
-ə-ˌdel
1
: a fortress that sits high above a city
2
: a strong fortress

More from Merriam-Webster on citadel

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