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• 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.

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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

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kremlin ² British  

/ ˈkrɛmlɪn /

noun

1. the citadel of any Russian city

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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.

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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

Zhemkova was speaking on the sidelines of an exhibition entitled "Artists Against the Kremlin: Memory Remains", at the De Balie cultural centre in Amsterdam.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

The Kremlin declined to comment earlier on whether the pair were expected in Moscow.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

The Kremlin says the Russian president didn't meet John Ratcliffe during that trip.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

To Modi's call for a cessation of hostilities, the Kremlin leader replied:

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Penkovsky also gave the CIA and MI6 a wealth of information about the Soviet leadership, including both rumors and concrete information about political squabbles inside the Kremlin and the Soviet military hierarchy.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

The people of Moscow rose, and the streltsi marched to the kremlin where the appearance of Natalia with the two children made the mob hesitate.

From The Story of Russia by R. Van Bergen

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

The douma invited the hetman to occupy the kremlin with his shoulders.

From The Story of Russia by R. Van Bergen