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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.


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)

"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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Ten Kraft Heinz brands will be part of the deal, including Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese, the companies said in a statement Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 21, 2026

The biggest winners weren’t star-studded cities such as New York and Los Angeles, but less-obvious destinations including Philadelphia and Kansas City, Mo., which saw significant boosts in tourism.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 20, 2026

Instead, some are buying local lettuce if they can afford it and live near growers, according to Ernest Baskin, chair of the food, pharma and healthcare department at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

From MarketWatch Jul. 20, 2026

A word for the Curacao fans I was with inside the Philadelphia Stadium - because who knew that supporters from a nation of just 150,000 could make that much noise?

From BBC Jul. 20, 2026

By the time we reached Philadelphia, I was like a jackrabbit sprung from a snare.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

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