Kirkwall

American

[kurk-wawl, -wuhl] / ˈkɜrkˌwɔl, -wəl /

noun

a town on Pomona island, NE of Scotland in the Orkney Islands: administrative center of the Orkney Islands.

Kirkwall British

/ ˈkɜːkˌwɔːl /

noun

a town on the N coast of Mainland in the Orkney Islands: administrative centre of the island authority of Orkney: cathedral built by Norsemen (begun in 1137). Pop: 6206 (2001)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Orkney Islands Council confirmed it had received some of the boxes at its schools, including Stromness Academy, Kirkwall Grammar School and Papdale Halls of Residence for pupils to enjoy.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Overnight Gusts of 84mph were recorded in Salsburgh, North Lanarkshire, 81mph in Kirkwall on Orkney and 80mph in Wick in the Highlands.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2024

Rail operator ScotRail stated they expected to run normal service, save for a few alterations on the Highland line, while all flights to and from Kirkwall Airport in Orkney have been cancelled for Wednesday afternoon.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2024

Letters and parcels are being transported from Royal Mail's Kirkwall delivery office to Stromness.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2023

I am not idle: I translated yesterday from your volume longish Kæmpe Visers, among which is the “Death of King Hacon at Kirkwall in Orkney,” after his unsuccessful invasion of Scotland.

From The Life of George Borrow by Shorter, Clement K.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023