citadel

American  

[sit-uh-dl, -uh-del] / ˈsɪt ə dl, -əˌdɛl /

noun

1. a fortress that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.

2. any strongly fortified place; stronghold.

3. (formerly) a heavily armored structure on a warship, for protecting the engines, magazines, etc.

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citadel British  

/ -ˌdɛl, ˈsɪtədəl /

noun

1. a stronghold within or close to a city

2. any strongly fortified building or place of safety; refuge

3. a specially strengthened part of the hull of a warship

4. (often capital) the headquarters of the Salvation Army

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Etymology

Origin of citadel

1580–90; < Middle French citadelle < Old Italian cittadella, equivalent to cittad ( e ) city + -ella -elle

Example Sentences

But nowadays, at the citadel, faces shown on panels about the city's history have been painted black.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

And discovered his house was built on a medieval citadel.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2024

This winter, he and Murphy went to Peru and toured Machu Picchu, the 15th-century Inca citadel perched on an 8,000-foot-high mountain ridge.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 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

“I’m not going to loot the citadel for you,” he said, prim.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• bastion
• fortification
• fortress