Philadelphia

American  

[fil-uh-del-fee-uh] / ˌfɪl əˈdɛl fi ə /

noun

1. a city in SE Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River: Declaration of Independence signed here July 4, 1776.

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Philadelphia British  

/ ˌfɪləˈdɛlfɪə /

noun

1. a city and port in SE Pennsylvania, at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers: the fourth largest city in the US; founded by Quakers in 1682; cultural and financial centre of the American colonies and the federal capital (1790–1800); scene of the Continental Congresses (1774–83) and the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776). Pop: 1 479 339 (2003 est)

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Philadelphia Cultural  

1. Largest city in Pennsylvania.

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Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love,” was founded in the late seventeenth century as a Quaker colony by William Penn.

Cultural center now and especially in colonial times. Its historical monuments include Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; the Liberty Bell; and Congress Hall.

Example Sentences

That as difficult as New York and Philadelphia are, with their towering housing projects and subway systems and social strata, those structures also protect human beings from the elements.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

In particular, the “Encore” section of her show reveals a hand-picked spin from her partner’s Latchkey Records store in Philadelphia.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

Tortorella’s edge was one of the reasons he got fired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2025 and wasn’t picked up by any of the teams in need of the coach during the subsequent offseason.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

In Philadelphia, ”consumer-facing” businesses held their prices steady, but manufacturers adjusted their prices upward by a 2½-year high of over 4%.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

Although he had seen how black freemen lived in Philadelphia, Isaac resumed the regular life of plantation bondage.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis