citadel
Americannoun
-
a fortress that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.
-
any strongly fortified place; stronghold.
-
(formerly) a heavily armored structure on a warship, for protecting the engines, magazines, etc.
noun
-
a stronghold within or close to a city
-
any strongly fortified building or place of safety; refuge
-
a specially strengthened part of the hull of a warship
-
(often capital) the headquarters of the Salvation Army
Etymology
Origin of citadel
1580–90; < Middle French citadelle < Old Italian cittadella, equivalent to cittad ( e ) city + -ella -elle
Explanation
A citadel is a fortified structure designed to provide protection during a battle. So, back in the days when pillaging was commonplace, it was a good idea to know where your nearest citadel was. Among the most historically famous citadels are the Acropolis in Athens and the Tower of London. Even though we're building fewer physical fortresses these days, citadel remains a useful word, particularly when you need to create a metaphor suggesting strength and safety. As poet John Keats wrote, "[I]t appears to me that almost any man may like the spider spin from his own inwards his own airy citadel."
Vocabulary lists containing citadel
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 8–13
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Beowulf vocabulary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Closer to the border, the citadel in the village of Shamaa was also partly destroyed by the Israeli military.
From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026
The crew locked themselves inside a fortified citadel while the attackers took control of the ship.
From BBC • Nov. 7, 2025
Marie-Laure, a blind girl hiding from the Nazis in a walled French citadel, and Werner, a young German radio expert, find themselves connecting without even knowing it.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025
During a lull in heavy rain late Friday, a torchbearer lit a cauldron in front of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple, on the citadel that dominates the Athens skyline and is Greece’s top tourist draw.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2024
In the citadel, when it came to food, they had been known to praise “gardener” as others might praise god.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
