citadel
Americannoun
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a fortress that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.
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any strongly fortified place; stronghold.
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(formerly) a heavily armored structure on a warship, for protecting the engines, magazines, etc.
noun
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a stronghold within or close to a city
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any strongly fortified building or place of safety; refuge
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a specially strengthened part of the hull of a warship
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(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
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.
In the waterfront building known as the red citadel -- once the seat of power -- visitors journey through a history that includes ancient art, Greek and Roman antiquities and Ottoman-era weapons and jewellery.
From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025
For years, he threw himself long and hard against Carson’s legendary citadel of privacy and in 2002 got the first interview after Carson’s earthshaking retirement.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2024
And discovered his house was built on a medieval citadel.
From BBC • Oct. 25, 2024
“Here I am at 68 years old and I’m walking around this citadel of my childhood,” he said during a Zoom interview last week.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 25, 2024
A figure in the doorway of a long-abandoned citadel.
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.
