Jump To:

• Kremlin
  Kremlin

  noun

  the Kremlin,
• kremlin
  kremlin

  noun

  the citadel of any Russian city

Kremlin

American  

[krem-lin] / ˈkrɛm lɪn /

noun

1. the Kremlin,

   1. the executive branch of the government of Russia or of the Soviet Union, especially in regard to its foreign affairs.

   2. the citadel of Moscow, including within its walls the chief offices of the Russian and, formerly, of the Soviet government.

---

Kremlin ¹ British  

/ ˈkrɛmlɪn /

noun

1. the 12th-century citadel in Moscow, containing the former Imperial Palace, three Cathedrals, and the offices of the Russian government

2. (formerly) the central government of the Soviet Union

---

kremlin ² British  

/ ˈkrɛmlɪn /

noun

1. the citadel of any Russian city

---

Kremlin Cultural  

1. A fortress in central Moscow that contains the central offices of the government of Russia and, formerly, the offices of the Soviet Union.

---

Discover More

The term Kremlin was also used figuratively to mean the former Soviet government.

Etymology

Origin of Kremlin

First recorded in 1655–65; earlier Kremelien, from German (now obsolete), from Old Russian kremlĭnŭ (unrecorded), derivative of kremlĭ “citadel” (modern Russian kremlʾ ), of disputed origin; perhaps akin to Old Russian Kromŭ, the citadel of Pskov, Ukrainian króma “partition,” Russian kromá, krómka “edge, border”; alternatively, perhaps of Turkic origin, akin to Turkish kermen “castle”

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Kremlin kremlin

The Russian, Chinese and US presidents, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, could potentially meet at an upcoming Asia-Pacific summit in China, the Kremlin said on Monday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

The Kremlin never said it agreed to the deal.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

The country’s diesel exports had already dwindled when the Kremlin banned exports in July to ensure there was enough fuel at home, particularly for the summer harvest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that he couldn’t share any comments regarding the announced energy ceasefire as contacts continued, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

The bartender’s tip had not yet reached the Kremlin when Presidium members gathered the next morning, Thursday, October 25.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Ancient Pskov, with its dilapidated, mossy-walled kremlin, was still the Red Army's prime target.

From Time Magazine Archive

Its sprawling kremlin is, next to Moscow's own, the most spectacular in Russia.

From Time Magazine Archive

The town above with its kremlin, whose circumference measures two versts, and which resembles that of Moscow, was altogether abandoned.

From Michael Strogoff Or, The Courier of the Czar by Jules Verne

If now we cross over to the other side of the river, we are at once confronted by something which very few Russian towns possess—a kremlin, or citadel.

From Russia by Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace

A Russian town consisted, first of the kremlin, a fortress of wood which, when required, was defended by "men of the service"; then came the suburbs, built around the kremlin, and inhabited by the people.

From The Story of Russia by R. Van Bergen

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---