Philadelphia

American  

[fil-uh-del-fee-uh] / ˌfɪl əˈdɛl fi ə /

noun

1. a city in SE Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River: Declaration of Independence signed here July 4, 1776.

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Philadelphia British  

/ ˌfɪləˈdɛlfɪə /

noun

1. a city and port in SE Pennsylvania, at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers: the fourth largest city in the US; founded by Quakers in 1682; cultural and financial centre of the American colonies and the federal capital (1790–1800); scene of the Continental Congresses (1774–83) and the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776). Pop: 1 479 339 (2003 est)

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Philadelphia Cultural  

1. Largest city in Pennsylvania.

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Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love,” was founded in the late seventeenth century as a Quaker colony by William Penn.

Cultural center now and especially in colonial times. Its historical monuments include Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; the Liberty Bell; and Congress Hall.

Example Sentences

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 10.3% that day, but is still up more than 70% on the year, which indicates crowded positioning and profit taking did most of the damage.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

In particular, the “Encore” section of her show reveals a hand-picked spin from her partner’s Latchkey Records store in Philadelphia.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

In Philadelphia, ”consumer-facing” businesses held their prices steady, but manufacturers adjusted their prices upward by a 2½-year high of over 4%.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

Philadelphia was the most important harbor in the U.S. in the early 1800s; even Montreal was more conducive to shipping from Buffalo and points west.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

Quick as lightning, I headed for the heavy front doors as if I were returning to the Philadelphia streets.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan