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
Originally built as a Byzantine citadel, it was reworked into its present Gothic form by the crusading Knights of St John when Rhodes served as the headquarters of their grand master.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
Prague Castle, Czech Republic Prague’s imposing citadel is also one of the few castles anywhere in the world that still boasts real political power — the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
There was a powerful reason in the late 1950s to design an arts citadel like a Renaissance piazza on one side and a grim fortress on the other: prejudice.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 30 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for citadel
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Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
Prague Castle, Czech Republic Prague’s imposing citadel is also one of the few castles anywhere in the world that still boasts real political power — the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2025
There was a powerful reason in the late 1950s to design an arts citadel like a Renaissance piazza on one side and a grim fortress on the other: prejudice.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 30 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for citadel
Cite this Entry
“Citadel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citadel. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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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